Emirates has started trials of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass.
IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app to help passengers manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.
The trials are a step towards making travel more convenient, enabling passengers to manage COVID-19 related documentation digitally throughout the travel experience. In the future, passengers will also be able to share vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.
The trial is being done on selected Emirates flights from Dubai to Barcelona and London Heathrow to Dubai; and will soon be expanded to include other routes. Eligible passengers are being personally invited to download the app and enrol for the digital travel pass ahead of travel.
In Dubai, Emirates has partnered with select Prime Health Care labs which are authorised to securely send test results to passengers via the app. Those travelling from the UK, can get their test done at select Screen4 labs.
IATA Travel Pass
IATA is global organisation that represents more than 290 airlines, including almost all the majors.
IATA believes that digital health certificates will be a key feature in air travel moving forward. So establishing trusted, secure solutions to verify the health credentials of passengers will be critical in facilitating smooth air travel and safeguarding public health.
The IATA Travel Pass app will have an integrated registry of travel requirements to enable passengers to find accurate information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations regardless of their itinerary.
The global registry, managed by IATA, will manage and allow the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders and to provide a seamless passenger experience.
Eventually it will also include a registry of labs – making it more convenient for passengers to find testing centres and labs at their departure location which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination.
More than 20 airlines have announced trials of the IATA Travel Pass.
N.B. Image credit: Emirates
