Austrian Airlines insists on a global digital travel certificate

Just in time for the start of the summer holiday season, Austria announced further easing of the current entry regulations. From 10 June onwards, a mandatory "Pre Travel Clearance" will only be required from people entering from a high-incidence and virus variant area. Previously, the European Union had agreed on a uniform certificate for corona vaccinations, tests and recovery. The digitally readable document is intended to make traveling across the EU easier and to put an end to the differently managed regulations for entering EU countries from 1 July.

"We expect this time frame to hold up to make travel within the EU as carefree as possible - right on time for the start of the holidays in July", says Austrian Airlines CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech. The "digital EU Covid certificate" will be available on mobile devices and paper format as a printed QR code. Its introduction in summer should end the EU-wide hotchpotch of different entry regulations.

With the global vaccination rate rising and the number of infections falling, the focus lies increasingly on restoring global freedom of travel. This is also reflected in the demand for flight tickets to the North Atlantic region this summer. "It is important that the EU Covid certificate is now followed by a globally recognized solution in order to give aviation a full boost. Travel is a basic need. People long for new experiences and for reunions with family, friends and business partners", emphasizes Alexis von Hoensbroech.

Last but not least, transatlantic air traffic is a driving economic factor. The prospect easing air travel is therefore essential. An international Covid certificate would give aviation an important uplift and enable a return to more flight connections and services at pre-crisis levels.

Austrian Airlines offers maximum security and flexibility for current flight bookings to destinations outside the EU thanks to free rebooking options. For all bookings before 31 July, both date and destination can be changed at no additional cost if, for example, entry regulations change at the original date of travel.

On the Austrian Airlines website, passengers will find information on traveling in times of corona, mandatory wearing of FFP2 masks, country-specific travel regulations or flexible rebooking arrangements. The information is updated on an ongoing basis.