SARS COV2
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AT
VIENNA AIRPORT
07.Oct 2020
Abschnittsbrandinspektor Ing Manfred SOMMERER
Crisis Management in Austria
Situation in Austria
9 Federal States form the Republic of Austria
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Transport
Ministry of Tourism
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Education etc…
some laws are legislated from the federal states
• 9 Federal State Health authorities
some laws are legislated from a Ministry
• Ministry of Public Health - Epidemiegesetz 1950 – Law created for a pandemic spread of
the flue, never used, in force till 1950, old and for the trash can
The execution of the laws are done by district administrations, when needed with support
from subsidiary body Police or as Assistance Service from Austrian Armed Forces
Smallest facility is the municipality with a mayor
Crisis Management in Austria
Crisis Communication
Aviation Crisis Communication Cell
as Part of National Crisis Disaster
Protection Management
Daily Briefings with all necessary
information for 6 Airports and
Airlines based in Austria
• Regarding SARS COV2
• Situation Report of Cases
• Travel Bans, Warnings
• Aviation Issues
• Medical Assets
• Related NOTAMs, change of
Laws and regulations
• Status and Operations of
Police, Armed Forces,
Hospitals, Medcial Staff
Crisis Management Vienna Airport
Airport Emergency Planning
Medical Emergency – Infectious
Revised 2014
Reason for Revalidation was the spread of
EBOLA Virus
Contents:
Point of Entries via Transport by Air
Procedures for Infectious Pax on AC
Liabilities/Responsibilities/Competences
Facilities
Crisis Management Vienna Airport
Departement of Public Affairs
Is integrated in General Secretary
Their Job is to state clear the interests of Vienna Airport or to have superior knowlegde
about the near future
They are using their political network to
• State Government
• Ministries
• Federal Chancellery
• Federal State Government
• Niederösterreichische
Landesregierung
• Wiener Landesregierung
• Provincional Government
• Stadt Wien
• Stadt Schwechat
Crisis Management Vienna Airport
Management
Board of
Directors
EOC with
Core Team
SKKM
OPS HR
Employes of Vienna Airport plc and
Subsidiaries
Input On
Site
RECON
Advise for Decision
Aviation Crisis Cell
Ministry of
Transport
SUMMARY OF OCCURENCES
DEC 19 – OCT 20
December 2019
Situation at Austria
No suspected Cases
Observation of Situation in China
Situation at Vienna Airport
Health Center – for Employes
Medical Center – for Passengers and
Visitors
Fire Rescue Service
Emergency Medical Service
Medical goods and products like
• Masks
• Desinfection Fluid
• Gloves
• Visors
• Protection Suites
were stocked up
December 2019
Situation at Vienna Airport
Homeworking were established and in
usage for some Departments like IT or
Accountancy.
At the Fire Stations we allready
implemented a System for linking the
two Stations together to do common
theoretical Trainings or Briefings with the
hole staff. The System is based on
Skype.
E-Learningplatforms were allready
installed and used for reccurrent
Trainings at
• Airside Operations
• Winter Services
• Security Services
• Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical
Services
Suspected Case Definition was very poor…same Symptoms like flue + arrivals from Province
Hubei
Situation in Austria
No positiv Case in Austria
First suspected Case in Vienna (Stewardess at Hotel in City Center) at same time 25.01.2020
with Vienna Airport, tested negativ
Travel Bans and Warnings are set and in force (very dynamic, variation from week to week)
January 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
25.01.2020 First suspected Cases, stranded PAX
from China at NH Hotel at Vienna Airport
Flight CA842 to Vienna was cancelled because of
positive cases at origin. About 300 Persons from
China, travelling accross Europe, came from Chech
Republic and some of them from Province Hubei, 3
of them with symptoms like flue and fever
It took about 7 Hours to get a decision from
Austrian Authorities, what will happen, where to
bring them, etc.
At these days all suspected cases were brought to
a designated Hospital, in Lower Austria Hochegg
which is aprox. 100 km away from Airport.
Manual Temperatur Screenings were established on
Flights from Mainland China (Remote Stands only)
Vienna Airport was designated as EASA Testairport
regarding Infection Protection on Airports
January 2020
January 2020
HR - Industrial Medical Care
Advices for Employes Protection against Infection
February 2020
Suspected Case Definition was very poor…same Symptoms like flue + arrivals from China
Mainland (including Hubei, excluding Taiwan)
Situation at Austria
25.02.2020 First Positiv Case in West Austria (Tirol/Innsbruck)
And two days later a positiv case in Vienna
Travel Bans and Warnings are set and in force (very dynamic, variation from week to week)
First actions to be set like wearing Masks at supermakets, stores, Drugstore, Doktor, Hospital
Travel Bans and Warnings are set and in
force (very dynamic, variation from week to
week)
Repatriation fights are done by Austrian Air
Force and Austrian Airlines from all over the
world (farest destination christchurch)
February 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
Reduced flights from Mainland China from Hainan Airlines, China Airlines, Air China and Eva
Air
Later this month only Air China was operating, all others quit there flight
06.02.2020 first flight from China (Air China) with manual Temp Screening, done by Medical
teams with medical officer from authorities
Suspected Cases (Temp >38°C ) were transfered to a medical facilitation
Installation of:
Emergency Operation Center - EOC
Creation of Mirror Teams for:
Terminal Operation Center - TOC
Security Operation Center - SOC
Airside Operation Center – AIROC
27.02.2020 Higher Operational Readiness (up to date)=> same in Military as DEFCON Status
Very strict actions and sanctions in Department EMERGENCY, higher than for other Employes
at Vienna Airport
February 2020
Emergency Operation Center – to bring the hole Company in Crisis Mode !
Forward Scenario Plannings were very important because of dynamic development
• Shut Down of Infrastructure
• switch off electricity
• set higher hygenic standards
• Parking of stranded Aircrafts
• further minimum operation
• winter service
Crisis Core Team as Main Component
of EOC with decision maker from
• Terminal Operation
• Airside Operation (accordingly with Ground Handling)
• Security Services
• Emergency Services
February 2020
TMG – actually as Temperature Measurement Group
founded with What´s App
later upgrade to a Communication Group for all staff at
Point of Entry including
• Health authorities
• Meassurment teams from Red Cross
• Ministry of Transport
• Airside OPS
• Emergency OPS
• Terminal OPS
• Austrian Armed Forces
Communication with Authorities in the beginning difficult.
Official Mobilphones from the Authorities are not allowed to
install and use What´s App (IT Policy). Later private Mobiles
or IT allowed such communication.
Facilitation of Medical Emergency Infectious (MEI) Capacity 300 Pax
• Temporary Facilitation for Infectious Pax
• Gateentrance for medical staff
• Toilet and Shower containers with waste water tank
• Information- and location area
• Arrival and departure driveways for external ambulances
• Separate medical treatment area with privacy cover
• MEI Rendezvous Procedure with external medical services
Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services 2020
March 2020
Suspected Case Definition was very poor…same Symptoms like flue but since europe cases
rises some symptoms are added like loss of smell, neurological misses + arrivals from
Province Hubei, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Russia, Belarus, USA, etc…at least
everywhere
Situation at Austria
positiv Cases in Austria are rising (very fast)
Ischgl Gate as a synonym for spread across europe
Travel Bans and Warnings are set and in force
(the aviation comes more and more to a stillstand)
Escalation on 13.03.2020
16.03.2020 Lockdown – „Easter Festivity will be
different to previous Years“ …Chancelors words
March 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
The traffic came to a stillstand
Infrastructure SHUT DOWN, Operation is done with Terminal 3 and Pier North
Basic Connections to Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Cargo Flights for urgent Medical
Assets, Cargo Flights related to Industry are done
First Positiv Case from Ground Handling Department
All Employes are in Short Working, except Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services
The Airport transformed to a hughe parking space for stranded Aircraft
March 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
The traffic came to a stillstand
Infrastructure SHUT DOWN, Minimum
Operation is done with Terminal 3 and Pier
North
Basic Connections to Frankfurt, Munich,
Hamburg, and Cargo Flights for urgent
Cargo Flights with Medical Assets for Austria
and Italy under the European Civil Protection
Mechanism were done
March 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
The traffic came to a stillstand
Infrastructure SHUT DOWN, Minimum
Operation is done with Terminal 3 and Pier
North
Basic Connections to Frankfurt, Munich,
Hamburg, and Cargo Flights for urgent
Cargo Flights with Medical Assets for Austria
and Italy under the European Civil Protection
Mechanism were done
First Positiv Case in Ground Handling
Department
March 2020
Passengers January - March
0
500.000
1.000.000
1.500.000
2.000.000
2.500.000
1 2 3
2020 IST 2018 2019
April, May, June, July 2020
Suspected Case Definition was clear with Symptoms like dry cough, fever, loss of smell,
respiratory disstress + arrivals from Province Hubei, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, Russia,
Belarus, USA, etc…at least everywhere, again a very dynamic opening of boarders and
restrictions
Situation at Austria
Testcapacity and Strategy changed from Transport of suspected cases to Hospital to „Set the
Personen under Quarantine“ and Test is done at home or come to Drive In Test Stations
situated across the country
Partly Mobilization of Armed Forces of Austria Militia (Great-Grandson
of the Emporer Ferdinand Habsburg on the „Front“)
April, May, June, July 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
Infrastructure is further on SHUT DOWN
Terminal 3 and Pier North open, some Shops and restaurants are reopening
Passengers are diverted to Level 2 were Temperature Screenings are done at Passport
counter, travel restrictions are executed, it seams every flight has different travel
restrictions
All Employes are in Short Working, except Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services
April, May, June, July 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
Travel Restrictions were reduced so Traffic is rising. For some Countries you need 14
days quarantine or a negativ COVID 19 PCR Test.
Vienna Airport was one of the first to implement a Test Station at the Airport for
Departing and Arriving Passengers
NH Hotel (next to PCR Test Facility) become Quaratine Facility for Suspected Cases or
Travelers which are not matching the entry regulations (Designated by Authorities,
seperate Korridors for Quarantine of suspected and positiv cases), NON Austrian
residents positiv cases were brought to hospital
March 2020
Passengers January - July
0
500.000
1.000.000
1.500.000
2.000.000
2.500.000
3.000.000
3.500.000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
2020 IST 2018 2019
August, September, October 2020
Suspected Case Definition was clear with Symptoms like dry cough, fever, loss of smell,
respiratory disstress, many countries are set on Travel warnings, so travelling is possible, but
it changes again to travel restrictions
Situation at Austria
Positiv Cases are Rising, different reasons, younger Party People, not exactly to define the
sanctions, City of Vienna is a big hotspot
August, September, October 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
Again Variation of Travel Restrictions are very dynamic at these days, bringing a lot of
confusion again to European Aviation Industries.
PCR Test Facility is doing 1/6 of Tests in Austria. Personell from Emergency Medical Service is
needed.
Preparing a second Test Facility in offline Terminal 1A for rapid ANTIGEN Test
August, September, October 2020
Situation at Vienna Airport
Infrastructure is further on SHUT DOWN, Terminal 3 and Pier North open, some Shops and
restaurants are reopening
Passengers are diverted to Level 2 were Temperature Screenings are done at Passport
counter, travel restrictions are executed, it seams every flight has other travel restrictions
All Employes are in Short Working, except Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services
5 Positiv Cases (poor symptoms or non, 3 recovered) at Fire Rescue Services, no further
infections to other Colleagues at the Section => the actions we did were the right one
August 2020
Passengers January - October
0
500.000
1.000.000
1.500.000
2.000.000
2.500.000
3.000.000
3.500.000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2020 IST 2018 2019
October 2020
Active Cases in Austria
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
25.02.20
03.03.20
10.03.20
17.03.20
24.03.20
31.03.20
07.04.20
14.04.20
21.04.20
28.04.20
05.05.20
12.05.20
19.05.20
26.05.20
02.06.20
09.06.20
16.06.20
23.06.20
30.06.20
07.07.20
14.07.20
21.07.20
28.07.20
04.08.20
11.08.20
18.08.20
25.08.20
01.09.20
08.09.20
15.09.20
22.09.20
29.09.20
06.10.20
October 2020
Active Cases in District Bruck/Leitha
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
10.Mär
17.Mär
24.Mär
31.Mär
07.Apr
14.Apr
21.Apr
28.Apr
05.Mai
12.Mai
19.Mai
26.Mai
02.Jun
09.Jun
16.Jun
23.Jun
30.Jun
07.Jul
14.Jul
21.Jul
28.Jul
04.Aug
11.Aug
18.Aug
25.Aug
01.Sep
08.Sep
15.Sep
22.Sep
29.Sep
06.Okt
How will the Crisis proceed…?
Which Things will remain in the Future…?
HR - Industrial Medical Care Future Introduction
Temperature Measurement for Employes at Apron Entrance to detect Personell with Fever
Hand Disinfection
Hygenic Standards
The NEW Working
Homeworking, Rules and Regulations new setup
Digitalization, touchless usage of facilities, ELGA (digital medical file of Austrian People)
Cyber Security Prevention
Economic Impact
Massive Lost 2020, H1 2020 18Mio Euro Loss
Cost Saving Project is in Force since from February 2020 on. Ongoing process following years
All Employes are in Short Working, except Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services till
January 2021, with possibility of extension…the duty rosters are allready written until the End
of March because of Winter Service.
How will the Crisis proceed…?
Which Things will remain in the Future…?
Economic Impact
Extension Plans like 3rd Runway, Terminal Extension, Reconstruction of Pier East are
postponed – not cancelled!
The Glass is half full
…not half empty
Situation at Vienna Airport
Reconstruction of Terminal 2 was continued without the influence of Passengers and will be
reopened in Q1 2021
The Glass is half full
…not half empty
Situation at Vienna Airport
Office Park 4 was finished and opened in August 2020
New linking Bridge from Terminal 1 to Office park 4 (a new Landmark in our Skyline) was
opened together with Office Park 4
The Glass is half full
…not half empty
Situation at Fire Rescue and
Emergency Medical Services
Extend/Merging/Bundle of Medical
Facilities
Cooperation with Lower Austria
Firebriagde Association , Firebrigade
Vienna and Firebrigade Industrypark
Schwechat OMV (Oilrefinery)
+ 1 Offroad Ambulance / RoRo Medical
Treatment Container
+ 1 RoRo Container Protective
Equipment
+ 1 RoRo Foam Supply
The Glass is half full
…not half empty
Situation at Fire Rescue and Emergency
Medical Services
+2 Trailer with Generator and Lightmast
from Ground Handling Department
Fill Up Empty Personell Slots in 2021
Basic Fireman Education and ongoing
Trainings to fullfill the Airport Firefighters
Requirements
Links
Coronavirus Dashboard from the Public Health Ministry – German or English
https://covid19-dashboard.ages.at/
Coronavirus Crisis in Austria - German
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19-Pandemie_in_%C3%96sterreich
Coronavirus Crisis in Austria – English
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Austria
Vienna Airport
www.viennaairport.com
THANK YOU!
STAY SAFE!
