Corona Airlift: Thousands of Germans are trapped - New Zealand blocks emigration

The corona virus pandemic has drastic consequences for vacationers. Germans are stuck and are not even allowed to go to the beach. The federal government has now launched a large-scale return campaign.

• Germans are stuck abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic *.
• Some countries, such as Morocco , have stopped flights to and from Germany.
• Stranded vacationers are helped with special promotions.

Update from March 31, 2020, 7:35 p.m .: While the "Airlift" campaign has already brought thousands of people back to Germany , the repatriation of 12,000 Germans from New Zealand is currently difficult.

The New Zealand government is blocking the departure of foreigners who want to go home because of the corona crisis - including 12,000 Germans. The German embassy in Wellington announced on Facebook on Tuesday that the New Zealand State Department had informed the representations of all countries that the stop on the return flights, which originally ran until Wednesday, had been extended. "For how long was it not said."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a press conference that the government was working on “framework conditions” for flight resumption, the message said. This would take "a few days".

Corona Airlift: Most German tourists are stuck in New Zealand

New Zealand is the country where most German tourists are still stuck because of the Corona crisis. There, travelers from the South Sea islands were also drawn together, so that they could then fly back to Germany .

The Federal Foreign Office launched the return campaign from New Zealand on Saturday with a first flight. However, all other planned flights were surprisingly canceled until Tuesday. The extension of the stop came as a surprise again.

Overall, the Federal Foreign Office organizes the return of around 200,000 Germans from abroad. More than 175,000 are now back home.

Corona Airlift: 160,000 people back in Germany - Maass has clear words for those who are still stuck

Update of March 28, 2020, 8:40 pm: On Saturday evening, Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) thanks Twitter to all those who are involved in the return campaigns. According to him, more than 160,000 Germans have so far been brought back from abroad.

Maas appealed to those who remained abroad: "Please be patient if we have not yet been able to help you." The Federal Government estimates the number of people willing to return, mostly holidaymakers , at around 200,000. "We will continue," tweeted Maas.

Initially, all EU countries had tried to bring their citizens home on their own, given the travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic . There is now coordination.

We have now brought back over 160,000 Germans from abroad. Thank you all, especially at @AA_SicherReisen and in the foreign agencies who work incredibly hard for it. We continue. Please be patient if we have not been able to help you. # COVID19

The situation in North Rhine-Westphalia remains controversial due to the corona pandemic. A scientific study has now looked at when the peak and possibly an end of the corona pandemic in Germany could have been reached. *

Corona Airlift: Federal Foreign Office facing “gigantic task”

Update of March 27, 2020, 2:50 p.m .: Since March 15, the Federal Foreign Office has been busy bringing travelers back to Germany due to the coronavirus pandemic . Together with tour operators and Lufthansa, a return could be organized for around 160,000 Germans as part of the "Airlift" operation. This is the largest part of the more than 200,000 travelers who have registered on the AA's return lists.

So far, mainly the main holiday destinations have been served, where you could fill one plane after the other with little logistical effort: Egypt, Philippines, Dominican Republic . Almost all tourists were able to leave Turkey or Spain even before regular air traffic ceased.

Now the focus is increasingly on inaccessible regions of the world in which blasted individual tourists and adventurers are traveling, as a crisis official from the Federal Foreign Office, Frank Hartmann, reported in an interview with the German Press Agency.

Return campaign due to corona crisis - holidaymakers in Dubai and Morocco facing problems

For three days, more than 100 travelers , including several Germans, have been waiting at Dubai Airport . In Morocco there are still more than 300 campers stuck trying to get to Europe via the Spanish exclave Ceuta.

The AA crisis managers assume that the entire operation will take at least two more weeks . "It's a gigantic task, " says Hartmann. At the end of the campaign, all countries would be queried again and, if necessary, additional aircraft would be sent. “But we cannot guarantee that everyone who is somewhere in the world will be picked up in the end. In view of the situation in some countries, this is hardly affordable, even if we strive for everyone. ”

In Austria, the Corona measures were taken into account after two weeks. Chancellor Kurz explains how to proceed and how to proceed with the corona restrictions. *

Return campaign due to corona crisis - thousands of German tourists are still stuck

Update of March 22, 2020, 3:21 pm : The federal government's return campaign has been running since last week. But German tourists are still stuck abroad. International flights were canceled due to entry stops. On Saturday night, Turkey stopped direct air traffic to Germany .

"Unfortunately, we cannot remedy the situation in the shortest possible time in all cases," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the newspapers of the Funke media group. "We are often faced with major challenges so that people can even reach the airports."

According to the Federal Foreign Office, Turkey almost completely stopped direct air traffic to Germany on Saturday night due to the Corona crisis * . The ministry said it was still possible to leave the country via third countries on Saturday, according to its travel information on the Internet.

Read also: In Munich, meanwhile, the second death has become known *, which is due to the coronavirus *.

Corona crisis: Federal government tries to bring vacationers back

The Federal Foreign Office urged you to take advantage of this opportunity: "Contact your airlines or tour operators immediately and urgently use free seating to return to Germany immediately."

The return campaign launched by the Federal Government with chartered planes has not yet affected Turkey, since regular flights were still possible.

“We have to put many pieces of the puzzle together. Our embassies and consulates work very hard day and night to find pragmatic solutions for all those affected, ”the Federal Foreign Office tweeted in view of the situation.

# Return campaign: "We have to put a lot of puzzle pieces into one another. Our embassies and consulates work with great commitment day and night to find pragmatic solutions for everyone concerned." @HeikoMaas
More about the return campaign: https://t.co/yq17WXxEok @AA_SicherReisen pic.twitter.com/0uWCFKuWK2

Corona crisis: German vacationers are stuck abroad

Update of March 20, 2020, 4:40 p.m .: Tour operators and Lufthansa, with the help of the federal government, have been bringing back 96,000 Germans who were stranded abroad due to the Corona crisis. About 100 special flights were organized for this, said Maria Adebahr, spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin on Friday.

However, tens of thousands of tourists are still stuck worldwide. According to Adebahr, 144,000 Germans who want to return to Germany have registered with the Federal Foreign Office since Tuesday. A total of several hundred thousand Germans are abroad, many of whom also live there.

Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) announced on Tuesday that it would bring back Germans from countries from which regular flights no longer exist. For this purpose, up to 40 machines are to be chartered for 50 million euros . These planes carried out 14 special flights on Wednesday and Thursday.

In addition, the tour operators and Lufthansa have been bringing vacationers back on special flights on their own since the weekend.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Söder imposed an exit restriction in Bavaria. Many Germans are now wondering what the difference between curfews and curfews is. Meanwhile, Mayor Reiter made an appeal to Munich, as reported by tz.de *.

Corona crisis: Germany extends "airlift" for holidaymakers - largest return campaign in history

Update from March 19, 5.46 p.m .: The Federal Government has expanded its return campaign for Germans abroad to a total of nine countries. From Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Argentina, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Peru and the Philippines , mainly tourists who are stuck because of the Corona crisis are flown out with the aircraft chartered by the Federal Foreign Office. An aircraft also brought back about 100 Germans from Azerbaijan. According to the Ministry, the operation there is already complete.

The tour operators and Lufthansa continue to fly several thousand vacationers on their own . It is the largest return campaign in the history of the Federal Republic with a total of probably more than 100,000 passengers. On Wednesday alone there were 7,500.

The government action started on Wednesday with a flight from Tunisia to Munich with 148 passengers. A total of 14 flights from six countries were planned by Thursday evening: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Dominican Republic and the Philippines. Three more are expected to be added: Argentina, Peru and Costa Rica. Depending on the location, the list will be expanded in the next few days.

Meanwhile, the situation in Italy is becoming increasingly dramatic. The corona virus claims more and more victims.

Corona crisis: Germany starts "airlift" for vacationers - travel warning tightened

Update of March 18, 1:19 p.m .: The largest return campaign for Germans from abroad in the history of the Federal Republic has started. On Wednesday afternoon, the first machine chartered by the federal government is to land in Munich with vacationers stranded in Tunisia due to the corona crisis.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, two machines from Egypt in Munich and three from Morocco in Frankfurt am Main will follow. The first plane with tourists is scheduled to take off from the Philippine capital Manila on Thursday evening.

The return campaign has also started at the travel group Tui . Around 10,000 passengers are brought back to Germany on special flights. It is mainly about Germans in Egypt and Spain, said a company spokesman on Wednesday.

There are five special machines from the Egyptian seaside resort of Hurghada to Berlin-Tegel, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hanover and Cologne during the day. From Spain there would be four extra connections from Palma de Mallorca and one from the Canary Island of Fuerteventura . Regular return flights from other Canary Islands would continue to be served.

Like Lufthansa or Condor, Tuifly participates in additional flights chartered by the federal government. "We are making quotas available to the Federal Foreign Office," it said. Crisis teams, foreign missions and local employees are in contact.

Return program + UPDATE +
1) The first flights have already started.
2) Overload at ELEFAND: it's our turn & take care so that everyone can register.
3) note our FAQ: https://t.co/xZdLOErfCV
We keep you up to date! @AA_SicherReisen # COVID19 pic.twitter.com/QbSMK8hmGD

Corona crisis: Germany starts recall campaign for Germans abroad

Update of March 17, 2020 : Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) has launched a return campaign for thousands of Germans who are stuck abroad due to travel restrictions in the Corona crisis. On Tuesday, he announced in Berlin that he would make up to 50 million euros available. In the next few days, the German government plans to use an "airlift" to take thousands of stranded tourists back from affected areas such as Morocco, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and the Maldives.

"Please stay at home, that will help you and others"

In addition, the federal government has issued a worldwide travel warning for tourist trips due to the Corona crisis. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Berlin on Tuesday. Until now, the Federal Foreign Office had only advised against unnecessary trips abroad.

In addition, all shops that are not necessary for basic services will initially be closed. Fortunately, these points of sale are not included.

#Travel warning: From now on we have decided to warn against all unnecessary tourist trips abroad. Hence the urgent request: stay at home. You are helping yourself and others! This travel warning for tourist trips applies worldwide. # COVID19

Corona crisis: German vacationers are stuck abroad - major restrictions in Mallorca

First message from March 15, 2020 :

Berlin - The corona pandemic shakes the world and turns a lot of things upside down. German tourists were stranded in Morocco because return flights were canceled. In order to stop the spread of the corona virus, Morocco has decided to discontinue all flight connections to Germany, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands. In any case, Africa could soon face a catastrophe due to Covid-19.

"The Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy Rabat are working intensively with the tour operators and the EU partners to create return travel opportunities for German nationals from Morocco," said a spokesman for the Federal Foreign Office on Sunday.

The tour operators are the first point of contact for package travelers. "We are also working with the travel companies to ensure that flight and ferry connections are available for individual travelers when they leave," it said. The Federal Foreign Office is also committed to the Moroccan government. Travelers are asked to keep themselves informed on the website of the Federal Foreign Office and the Rabat embassy.

#Morocco # Covid19 https://t.co/yMq0wj3RVv

Vacationers stranded by corona virus: special flights to Germany

Holidaymakers are also stranded in Mallorca, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. With special flights, Lufthansa and its subsidiary Eurowings want to bring up to 6,500 vacationers back to Germany.

Lufthansa is implementing 15 charter flights by Wednesday for around 3,000 to 4,000 travelers who are stuck in Barbados and the Dominican Republic due to the coronavirus crisis, as Lufthansa announced on Sunday to the German Press Agency. They are holiday guests from the islands as well as cruise passengers.

Video: Alarm status also on Mallorca: Ballermann goodbye?

Several shipping companies and tourism companies have commissioned Lufthansa to fly the vacationers back. In addition to the 15 special flights, there would be two regular flights from the Dominican Republic and Barbados. Eurowings will be offering additional connections from Palma de Mallorca to Stuttgart , Hamburg and Düsseldorf in the next few days. The company expects around 2,500 passengers.

Lufthansa uses long-haul Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 aircraft on long-haul routes. Departure points are Tenerife, Punta Cana and Barbados. Destination airports are Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. According to Lufthansa, the planes usually fly empty to the Caribbean or the Canary Islands. The first returnees were expected in Germany on Sunday.

Corona crisis: Berlin Tegel lifts night flight ban

In order for vacationers to be able to return home quickly, the state of Berlin has temporarily lifted the night flight ban for international flights at Tegel Airport (TXL). This measure will apply immediately until March 22nd. Delayed planes can land directly in the capital and do not have to switch to other airports.

We are raising until 22.3. 2020 the night flight ban on #TXL for internat flights to allow vacationers to return home without detours. Delayed machines do not have to switch to other airports from which buses go to Berlin. #Contagiousness reduction # COVID19de

Spain announces coronavirus alarm: Mallorca holidaymakers are no longer allowed to go to the beach

In Spain, the alarm condition had been declared at the weekend. The government in Madrid imposed a 15-day curfew nationwide on Saturday evening and severely restricted people's freedom of movement. The almost 47 million inhabitants of Spain have had to stay at home since Sunday. Only necessary trips to work, to the doctor and the shopping of food and medication are allowed. This curfew also applies to the holiday island of Mallorca . The Ballermann in Mallorca is deserted. Security forces monitor the order. Failure to do so may result in fines or imprisonment.

Coronavirus in Mallorca: The police are monitoring the curfew.

© dpa / Clara Margais

Bavaria announces a disaster because of Corona - the news sounds threatening. Many do not understand exactly what the proclamation means. It is not that rare *. In Germany, cell phone data could be monitored to curb the pandemic - a virologist warns against this with forceful words.

ml / dpa

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.

Rubric list image: © AFP / FETHI BELAID