Transiting through VIE -- Covid test?
 

My next trip to the US involves a single connection through VIE in both directions. Outbound to the US I definitely need a Covid test because of US entry requirements. But on the return, my destination country does not require a test. Will I need one to transit in VIE, as I am entering the EU/Schengen Zone there on the return? I've asked the airline, Austrian, and got an ambiguous answer, saying that "passengers who are only changing flights at Vienna Airport (and are not entering Vienna) are generally governed by the relevant entry regulations of their country of origin." Origin? "Generally governed"?

When I check other countries, like Germany and the US, they both clearly say that Covid test are required, even if only connecting at the airport. Paris seems to say no test if only transiting, so long as you stay airside. I cannot find any definitive directive for VIE.

Hello Ikijibiki and welcome to the forum.
A very good question! We can be sure that many Transit points will be vague. No one wants to have the finger pointed at them, with the rules changing all the time.

I did find something on the Austrian government's website:

When entering Austria from abroad, a medical certificate or a valid negative test result in German or English language for SARS-CoV-2 must be available and presented to border authorities upon request. After entry, a quarantine of 10 days is required.. . .

People whose entry is subject to one of the following exceptions do not have to register, and quarantine is not required:
. . . Professional transfer journeys/transfer flights.
. . . Transit through Austria without a stopover, which also applies to exclusively indispensable interruptions, provided that a departure is ensured.

This isn't specific to airports, but seems it should apply, no? Wishful thinking?

A friend of mine transitted through FRA in early February and it took some time to locate the information as both airport and airline pointed at the govt page but the govt page did not mention transit! She had all the tests for her destination and was not entering Germany - staying in Transit for only 2.5 hours. it all went fine. The key is, in Transit and not going land side.

But keep searching!

Paxboy
Should that not be land side rather than airside ? ie you are in transit airside, and not entering the country in which you are changing, and therefore not going land side and not clearing customs.
Cheers
Mr Mac

Thanks Mr Mac. Corrected. I was already asleep.

PAXboy
I think many of us have been there doing the travelling we do, but given the post I thought it was wise to be more pedantic sorry 😞

Cheers
Mr Mac

From what I've read on the Lufthansa website, both FRA and MUC require you to have a negative Covid test even if only transiting through!

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All passengers aged six years and older entering Germany on flights from high-risk, high-variant and non-risk areas since 00:00 on Tuesday, March 30, must present a negative Covid-19 test upon departure. The testing obligations also apply to passengers with a connecting flight in Frankfurt or Munich.

There are no exceptions to the testing obligation for transit passengers - even if they do not leave the transit area in Frankfurt or Munich.
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