Air Canada is launching a trial of a new digital health travel pass available through its mobile app.
Passengers can securely scan, upload and verify their COVID-19 test results.
The new app allows passengers to check their documents are compliant with government health travel requirements before arriving at the airport.
Canada’s largest airline is bucking the trend a bit by using its own solution rather than one already well trialled like the IATA Travel Pass.
Air Canada does say the app is designed to be compatible with other health passport applications currently under development around the world.
The trial starts on flights from Frankfurt to Toronto and Montreal on June 29.
Depending on the results of the trial, Air Canada plans to roll-out the solution across its network later this summer and introduce new capabilities so that passengers can also pre-validate proofs of vaccination.
For the Frankfurt departure trial beginning June 29, 2021, the new mobile solution will accept COVID-19 PCR test results from Centogene Labs in Germany.
How it works
- There is no requirement to download an application, as a link to submit documents will appear on the Air Canada mobile app or mobile website during check-in
- Within 24 hours of departure, passengers checking-in on mobile can securely submit their test results by scanning a QR code of the Centogene lab test result.
- Passengers then receive a message verifying the test that will enable them to pass through the airport and board their flight without any further requirement to demonstrate the validity of their health documents
- Passengers must bring and retain their original documents for the duration of their journey.
Capabilities to manage test results from other labs and also vaccination records will be introduced later. The new solution also provides information about the government health entry requirements of the destination country.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada’s flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world.
Routes: Air Canada’provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 60 in the United States and 98 in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America.
Fleet: Air Canada operates over 160 aircraft, including:
- 22 Airbus A220
- 16 Airbus A330
- 15 Airbus A321
- 18 Airbus A320
- 4 Airbus A319
- 24 Boeing 737 MAX 8
- 25 Boeing 777
- 37 Boeing 787
(Source: aircanada.com at date of writing. Aircraft are from Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Jazz are separate. Since the last AC story there is a reduction of Airbus A321, A319 and an increase of A220).
Passenger numbers: In 2018, Air Canada, together with its Air Canada Express regional partners, carried nearly 51 million passengers.
Alliance: Star Alliance
N.B. Image credit: Air Canada
