INTERNATIONAL. The first travellers using the International Air Transport Association IATA Travel Pass app arrived at Heathrow Airport yesterday on a Singapore Airlines flight from Changi Airport.
The trial allowed the passengers to use the app to create a secure digital version of their passports on a mobile device and input flight details to learn of travel restrictions and requirements. They then received verified test results and a confirmation that they had met all of the relevant travel health regulations.
IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: “The successful implementation of IATA Travel Pass in this trial with Singapore Airlines passengers demonstrates that technology can securely, conveniently and efficiently help travellers and governments to manage travel health credentials. The significance of this to restarting international aviation cannot be overstated.”
He added: “Today’s success is a big win for many parties. It gives travellers a one-stop-shop to help them comply with the new rules for travel. It shows that governments can efficiently manage these travel requirements with complete confidence in the identity of the passenger and the veracity of the travel credentials – importantly, avoiding long queues. And it’s a purpose-built means for airlines to manage the new travel requirements without drowning in inefficient and ineffective paper processes.”
Singapore Airlines Acting Senior Vice President, Marketing Planning JoAnn Tan said that digital health credentials will be essential as borders reopen and travel restrictions get progressively lifted worldwide.
She added: “The successful implementation of the IATA Travel Pass reflects Singapore Airlines’ goal of using secure digital solutions to verify health credentials, and support a safe and seamless travel experience for our customers.”
IATA Senior Vice President Airport, Passenger, Cargo, Security Nick Careen asserted that airlines understand that their operations will grind to a halt if they have to manage COVID-19 travel requirements – test results or vaccine certifications – with paper documentation.
He continued: “The UK is ahead of other governments in mapping a way to restarting international travel at scale. This real-life proof of concept should give all governments confidence that industry has a workable digital solution that will ease the pressure of incorporating health certificate checks into the travel process, including at borders.
“This trial is an opportunity for us to work with the UK government to demonstrate that the solution works and to share the results with others as we build a robust and efficient system that will help the world get moving again.”
