"Homecoming" For Austrians Stranded in the U.S. Over Coronavirus
On March 23, 2020, the Austrian Embassy facilitated the return of over 300 Austrians, stranded due to flight cancellations, from the United States to Vienna. The repatriation flight, organized in cooperation with Austrian Airlines, left Dulles International Airport shortly after 9:00 pm and safely arrived in Vienna the next morning. Passengers wore protective face masks and gloves while on board the Boeing 777 and agreed to self-quarantine for 14 days after landing.
Among the Austrians on Monday’s repatriation flight were many exchange students, who were spending a high-school-year abroad in the U.S. and had to fly in from all across the country to catch the transatlantic flight back home to Austria.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry has been organizing these flights for Austrian citizens and permanent residents around the world on an unprecedented scale. Those having trouble returning to Austria during this global health situation would not be left stranded. So far, approximately 5,000 Austrian citizens have been repatriated from 12 countries on 28 flights (including two from Wuhan, China) back to Austria. Most of the chartered flights, including Monday’s service from Washington, D.C., are operated by national carrier Austrian Airlines, which had to temporarily suspend all commercial flight operations last week as a result of the outbreak.
Ambassador of Austria to the U.S. Martin Weiss (center) with the Austrian Airlines crew of the repatriation flight OS 1022 from Washington, D.C. to Vienna on March 22, 2020, at Dulles International Airport
In response to the rapidly evolving situation regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has called on all Austrian travelers to come home as soon as possible. While commercial return travel options are still available, restrictions on air traffic have been increasing daily since the outbreak.
All Austrian travelers are strongly advised to register at https://www.bmeia.gv.at/reise-aufenthalt/auslandsservice/reiseregistrierung/. Once registered, citizens will receive the latest information, including possible repatriation flights, from the local Austrian Embassy.
Special thanks to Austrian Airlines Station Manager and fellow Austrian Peter Rohrhofer (pictured in the center) and his local team at Dulles International Airport for the great cooperation.