Mumbai, July 11: A viral social media post has once again stirred the internet with a curious claim that Vienna Airport has a dedicated help desk for passengers who mistakenly booked flights to Austria instead of Australia. Businessman Harsh Goenka also apprently fell for this widely circulated myth, sharing it on X. He wrote "Interesting" and shared an image which says: "If you’re having a bad day, just remember that the airport in Vienna has a counter for people who flew to Austria instead of Australia."

According to the post, the mix-up happens so frequently that the airport authorities were forced to set up a special counter to help confused travellers find their way to the correct country. The claim often resurfaces with a photo showing a quirky sign: “Sorry, this is Austria not Australia! Need help? Please press the button.” It’s a tale that’s amusing, relatable, and therefore easy to believe — but entirely false. Cow and Leopard Friendship Real or Fake? Here’s the Truth Behind Decades’ Old Viral Photos That Continue To Fascinate the Internet.

Viral Claim About Vienna Airport Help Desk Is Fake

No, Vienna Airport Doesn’t Have a Help Desk for Australia-Austria Confusion

Fact-checking platforms have debunked this claim multiple times. Vienna International Airport does not have any such help desk, nor does it receive a significant number of passengers confused between Austria and Australia. The viral image often associated with this story is actually a marketing prop from an old advertisement created by a security company, not an official airport sign. Fact Check: Has the Government Commissioned a Nationwide Study on Sudden Deaths in India? Centre Debunks Fake News.

Does Vienna Airport Have Desk For Flyers Confused Between Austria & Australia? Know The Truth Here

A similar rumour about Salzburg Airport went viral in 2023, using the same humorous sign. The viral sign is actually an old advertisement by Commend International, a company specialising in intercom systems. Displayed above a luggage carousel at Salzburg Airport, the billboard humorously addresses Austria-Australia confusion but isn’t a real help desk. Its small print confirms it’s a marketing campaign, not airport infrastructure.

While the Austria-Australia confusion is real for some, there is no official infrastructure at Austrian airports to address this issue.

Fact check

Fact Check: Does Vienna Airport Have Desk for Those Who Accidentally Flew to Austria Instead of Australia? Know the Truth Here
Claim :

Vienna International Airport has a dedicated help desk for passengers who mistakenly flew to Austria instead of Australia due to name confusion between the two countries.

Conclusion :

The claim is false. Vienna Airport does not have a special help desk for travelers who confuse Austria with Australia. The widely shared image linked to this claim is from an old advertisement by a security company and not an official airport facility.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2025 08:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).