Austria to reinstate ban on direct flights from UK
Austria will impose a landing ban for flights from the UK due to the spread of the so-called Indian variant of coronavirus in the country.
Aircraft from the United Kingdom will no longer be allowed to land in Austria from June 1st, according to a regulation by the Ministry of Health published on Monday.
In addition, the UK will be put on the list of virus variant areas from Tuesday.
Only Austrian citizens and residents allowed to visit Austria
This means entry from the United Kingdom to Austria will only be possible to a limited extent and with a negative PCR test.
Only Austrian citizens and residents will be allowed to enter the country, apart from certain groups.
The Austrian government announced on Saturday that entry from virus variant states would be permitted for humanitarian workers, persons who have been summoned by the courts and people traveling to an international organisation on business, provided they can provide evidence of a negative PCR test result.
Other "virus variant" states include Brazil, India and South Africa. The ordinance banning aircraft from these countries from landing was recently extended up to and including June 6th.
READ MORE: Explained: The new rules for entering Austria
Germany also recently banned travellers from the UK from entering the country.
READ MORE: Germany bans travel from UK over covid Indian variant.
Earlier ban over so-called British virus variant
Flights from the UK were also banned from landing in Austria between December and March because of the so-called British virus variant. However, on March 21st, flights between the two countries resumed.
Recently the B.1.617.2 variant of the coronavirus, which was first discovered in India, has spread widely in the UK. This virus variant is considered to be particularly contagious and is believed to be the reason the number of infections in India have exploded in recent months.
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This means entry from the United Kingdom to Austria will only be possible to a limited extent and with a negative PCR test.
Only Austrian citizens and residents will be allowed to enter the country, apart from certain groups.
The Austrian government announced on Saturday that entry from virus variant states would be permitted for humanitarian workers, persons who have been summoned by the courts and people traveling to an international organisation on business, provided they can provide evidence of a negative PCR test result.
Other "virus variant" states include Brazil, India and South Africa. The ordinance banning aircraft from these countries from landing was recently extended up to and including June 6th.
READ MORE: Explained: The new rules for entering Austria
Germany also recently banned travellers from the UK from entering the country.
READ MORE: Germany bans travel from UK over covid Indian variant.
Earlier ban over so-called British virus variant
Flights from the UK were also banned from landing in Austria between December and March because of the so-called British virus variant. However, on March 21st, flights between the two countries resumed.
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