During July 2021, around 5% to 10% of long-haul passengers, many in transit, were unable to depart from Zurich airport because their Covid-19 documents did not comply with destination country regulations, reported the newspaper Le Temps.
In June 2021, around 700 passengers, most of which were in transit, found themselves stuck at Zurich airport.
According to a spokesperson at Swissport, a company providing ground services for the airport, flights with stopovers can catch people out. It is typically the last place of departure that counts for Covid-19 test certificates rather than the original point of departure.
For short-haul flights, the percentage of passengers falling foul of the rules and missing their flights across all of Switzerland’s three main airports during June and July 2021 was between 1% and 2%.
The most common issues are passengers either having no certificate, an expired certificate or one that isn’t also in English. Another often seen problem is certificates with names that don’t match passport or identification documents. Sometimes names are incomplete.
The UK recently dropped the requirement to quarantine for those double vaccinated in Europe. However, negative tests are still required.
Swissport manages roughly 80% flights in and out of Switzerland and therefore does not have the full picture, warned the spokes person.
More on this:
Le Temps article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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Jayasankar Krishnamurty says
My wife and I were not allowed to board at Zurich for Dulles US. This was because the US needed our marriage certificate. This was not raised earlier in Geneva from where we had first boarded for Zurich. Fortunately, I had the certificate. But clearance from the US did not come in time. As a result, we had to stay overnight at great expense and inconvenience. Coordination between Swiss, United and the authorities is very poor. We ought to be compensated for the fault at the Geneva end.
Rosana Chwojnik says
Good morning 🌞.I am making the test,the one you have to make it yourself.is negative/I want to visit me loving family.they are with his profesión.working in Buenos aires.argentina.My mother died in July this year.so2 years that i couldn’t see her,and a nurse.had Covid 19.and ,she was a;; that i over.in my ; life,i couldn’t hug 🤗 her, or say goodbye,i didn’t have the money to go to hug her and tell her how i love you 😢.I’m waiting before I travel.to give ,e this Delta vaccine…My question is if the tests are enough or i have to give all 3 vaccines.?
Have a beautiful weekend and thank you 🌎🤗
Adrian Batku says
Some passengers don’t bord because of the stupidity and ignorance of the staff at the airport.