In November 2020, Austrian Airlines started an antigen test trial phase on the Vienna-Hamburg-Vienna route. This will now be extended until at least December 15, 2020. However, the results are still not recognized in Austria or Germany for obtaining entry relief.

Until December 15, 2020, all passengers and crew members on Austrian Airlines flights OS171 (Vienna-Hamburg) and OS172 (Hamburg-Vienna) will be tested for Covid-19 before take-off. This ensures that everyone on board has tested negative for Covid-19. Since the start of the pilot project on November 12th, Austrian Airlines has been able to build up experience and practice in integrating the rapid tests into the travel chain. An extension of two weeks is intended to provide further information in order to offer the test offer on a larger scale in the medium term and to expand it to other routes in the Austrian Airlines network. The aim is to combine freedom of travel and health protection through the use of rapid tests and to relax the numerous entry restrictions in the long term.

“The announcement of an imminent vaccination gives cause for hope. But until this is available across the board, we will continue to work flat out on our quick test offer, ”explains Austrian Airlines COO Jens Ritter.

The free Covid-19 antigen rapid tests are carried out in close cooperation with the Lufthansa Group and the airports in Vienna and Hamburg, where their own test infrastructure has been set up. Passengers receive their test results after 10 to 15 minutes. In the event of a positive test result, the affected passenger will be looked after by the medical team for complete clarification and the further course of action will be determined with the responsible health authority. In this case, the Austrian Airlines flight can be rebooked or canceled free of charge. Passengers who have tested positive can also benefit from insurance cover free of charge through the AXA Partners product “Tested Flight Care”.

“Our mandatory test offer on Hamburg flights has been positively received across the board. In November we tested a total of around 600 passengers and the corresponding crews, ”said Austrian COO Jens Ritter. “Travel is a basic human need, and even a pandemic will not be able to slow it down in the long term. If we offer passengers and authorities even more security when traveling, the demand for air travel will rise again. In order to standardize travel guidelines, however, a common solution within the European Union is definitely required. "

“The trial run together with Austrian Airlines with rapid antigen tests is very successful and shows that these processes can be integrated very well into the travel process. In order to get the economy and tourism going again, a Europe-wide coordinated test strategy with extensive use of these test procedures is urgently needed. Because even if a vaccination is already in sight, international area-wide penetration will still take some time. Rapid antigen tests are therefore an urgently needed route to greater freedom of movement, ”said Flughafen Wien CEO Julian Jäger.

At the moment, the rapid antigen test does not completely replace the officially prescribed PCR tests. However, there are already some officially regulated exceptional cases in which rapid antigen tests are accepted upon entry. In any case, passengers must continue to observe the local entry regulations. The obligation to wear a mask on board Austrian Airlines flights and at airports also remains in place. The only exceptions are children under 6 years of age and passengers who present a corresponding medical certificate.