VDMA
Restriction of air traffic harms the economy
Germany's mechanical engineering companies have warned of far-reaching restrictions on air traffic and stricter border controls.
"The fight against the coronavirus pandemic is increasingly being carried out on the backs of the economy, without the usefulness of the measures being apparent in every case," criticized VDMA Managing Director Thilo Brodtmann in Frankfurt last week.
Compliance with the corona measures, especially for travelers from risk areas, could be easily monitored in air traffic. "A general ban on air travel is therefore superfluous and would cause just as much damage to the European economy as the planned stricter border controls," said Brodtmann. Fitters and service technicians should be able to cross borders without major delays and also be able to travel to customers by air.
According to media reports, the German government is considering further restrictions on cross-border traffic in view of the risks posed by mutations of the coronavirus. "The threat posed by the numerous virus mutations requires us to examine and discuss drastic measures within the federal government," said Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU). These include "significantly stricter border controls", especially at the borders to high-risk areas, "but also the reduction of air traffic to Germany to almost zero".
To date, there has been no state intervention in air traffic in Germany. However, cross-border travel is restricted by testing requirements and quarantine rules for people entering the country from coronavirus risk areas.
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