Arlberg Ski Area Announces Covid-19 Policy for its Lift System

20th September 2020

Last modified on May 20th, 2021

The Arlberg stretches across the Tirol and Voralberg in Austria and is the largest lift-linked ski area in the country.

It also happens to be one of PlanetSKI’s favourite ski areas in the Alps.

It contains the resorts of St Anton, St Christoph, Lech, Warth Shrocken, Zurs and others.

The ski resort of St Anton is the main one and it saw a significant outbreak of coronavirus last winter.

The opening date for the area is scheduled for December 4th and the rules for the lift system have been announced.

None of the new measures is a great surprise, but skiing and snowboarding will be a different experience altogether next winter.

There is no mention of measures that will be taken at hotels, restaurants and bars.

Plus the all-important apres-ski venues.

• Face masks must be worn in all cable car/lift buildings (entrance areas, ticket offices), in queuing areas and on all cable car/lift journeys (tow lifts, chair lifts, aerial cableways, monocable gondola lifts).In addition to standard face masks, multifunctional scarves, buffs, bandanas, ski masks etc. can also be worn (mouth and nose must always be completely covered!). Multifunctional scarves are on sale if required.
• In all cable car/lift buildings (ticket offices, WCs) and cable car/lift entrance areas, there will be info points and signs providing information about the Covid 19 safeguards and sufficient hand disinfection facilities.

• In Austria, cable cars are legally classed as public transport; there is currently no legal requirement to reduce passenger capacities. In any case, when the number of passengers in our ski area is lower, the lifts do not run at full capacity. It is not planned to introduce passenger number restrictions, but this may be necessary at short notice and is therefore subject to change without notice.

• All cable car cabins, WC facilities, ticket offices and other similar facilities will be  cleaned and disinfected regularly.

• Employees in contact with visitors at the lifts and cable cars are tested for Covid-19 before starting work for the first time, and regular follow-up tests as well as testing on demand are planned. In addition, employees in contact with visitors are instructed to wear a face mask.

• Online ski pass sales with pick-up boxes and vending machines are expected to be available at the beginning of the winter season.
• Holidaymakers in the Arlberg resorts can also purchase a ski pass from more than 250 participating hotels and guest houses on site, and day-trippers can also become members of the Golden Moments Club and use the direct-to-lift system. These ski pass purchasing options will prevent large crowds accumulating at ski pass ticket offices as far as possible.

PlanetSKI was in St Anton as it shut last March and we likely picked up a dose of Covid-19:

Coronavirus ends European ski season

Exodus from Austria plus confusion over to self-isolate

St Anton, along with Ischgl and Soelden, went into lock down first and remained so for long than other parts of Austria due to the high number of cases.

Ischgl and St Anton remain in quarantine with decision expected on Soelden

The keys question for many is what it will look like in town, in particular as the apres ski venues.

There is no official word, but it is likely social distancing will be required and it may look very much like its fellow Tirol resort of Ischgl.

Apres ski will be on hold.

Ischgl sets out to rebuild image and reputation after Covid-19

“We will naturally continue to evaluate current conditions and immediately adjust our regulations in the Ski Arlberg ski area accordingly in line with the latest developments, new legal and official requirements,” said a statement from the Arlberg ski area.

“As Austria’s largest ski area and one of the five largest in the world, with these and other appropriate measures we are confident that we can offer our visitors an enjoyable trip to the cradle of alpine skiing in the skiing season of 2020/21”.

“All the best, stay healthy and we are looking forward to seeing you.”

Here at PlanetSKI we expect an announcement from the Federal government about safety regulations in Tirolean ski resorts shortly and, as always, we’ll keep you updated.