Portugal to Penalize Airlines €20,000 Per Untested Passenger

Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced that “Tests are now mandatory for any entry into national territory”. This goes for passengers regardless of nationality. Costa also announced Portugal will penalize airlines for every untested passenger.

He said that “it is the obligation of all airlines, at the time of ‘check in’, to only allow the boarding of flights to Portugal by people who prove to be properly tested”.

€20,000 Per Untested Passenger

Portugal plans to penalize airlines with a €20,000 fine per untested passenger. This includes fully vaccinated travelers. In addition to this, Costa announced that Portugal will “increase the additional sanctions that may culminate in the suspension of the flight licenses of these companies for national territory”.

By December 1, Mainland Portugal will revert to a state of calamity. At a press conference, Costa said that “The Council of Ministers approved raising the alert level to the level of calamity as of December 1”.

This is the second state of calamity for Portugal this year. The first was between May 1 and September 30.

Europe’s COVID19 Situation

Even with high levels of vaccination, Costa said that the country “is not doing so well” as hospitalizations and deaths increase. Portugal’s health authorities are looking to give COVID19 booster shots to 25% of its population by the end of January.

Costa said that “Vaccination has allowed us to save lives”.

The surge of COVID19 cases in Europe alarmed the travel industry. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary predicts a “fraught period” in the coming months. Austria and Slovakia already imposed national lockdowns to curb infections.

Also, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the highest travel warning to Germany and Denmark. The two countries are now in CDC’s “level 4” category. It means that travelers are advised to complete their vaccine doses before traveling to these countries. On the other hand, both Germany and Denmark allow vaccinated US tourists.