It seems as if some travelers at Frankfurt Airport are currently avoiding passengers who might be coming from China as a precaution.

In any case, the news from the People's Republic of a massive increase in corona infections with the simultaneous easing of the previously strict protective measures is causing considerable uncertainty.

Jochen Remert

Airport editor and correspondent Rhein-Main-Süd.

  • Follow I follow

This uncertainty is encouraged by the fact that some EU countries had already decided on entry restrictions for people from China before the Union was able to agree on a common line.

In addition, contradicting assessments by experts are likely to irritate once again.

The airport operator Fraport does not believe in national individual solutions such as those already adopted by France, Spain and Italy.

A spokesman refers to the position of the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry, which only considers a Europe-wide uniform approach to be sensible.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) also takes this line.

Furthermore, recommendation to wear a mask in the airport and on the plane

In the discussion that continued on Wednesday at EU expert level, according to information from Brussels, a majority for tests before leaving China for the EU emerged early on.

Irrespective of this, Spain, for example, already put the 3-G rule for travelers from China into force on Tuesday, so they must be vaccinated, recovered or tested.

France also insists on a negative test.

Meanwhile, the international umbrella organization of airlines (IATA) has criticized the fact that these and other states require travelers from China to have negative Covid tests: “It is very disappointing to see that such measures are being reintroduced as a reflex, which have changed in the past three years have proven ineffective,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.

Lufthansa did not want to take part in the discussion, but supports the EU-wide regulation, as a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa is pointing out to its passengers on the Internet that there is an obligation to wear a protective mask on their flights to and from China.

The airline currently flies four times a week to mainland China's destinations Beijing and Shanghai.

Masks are not compulsory on all other Lufthansa flights to and from Germany.

At the same time, the crane line points out that the EU Air Safety Agency continues to recommend that passengers of all airlines wear a mask on board and at airports.

No information was available from Air China on Wednesday about the question of a mask requirement.

The Federal Foreign Office points out that infections in China have reached their highest level since the beginning of the corona pandemic.

A PCR corona test that is not older than 48 hours is generally required for entry into China.

A hotel quarantine is no longer planned from Sunday.

According to the Chinese Embassy in Berlin, tourist trips are still not possible.