Emirates and Etihad have announced they will be the first two major Middle Eastern airlines to partner with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to trial a ‘Travel Pass’ that would allow travellers to create a ‘digital passport’ through a dedicated application to receive COVID-19 test results and verify they are eligible to undertake their journey.
The IATA Travel Pass will keep passengers in control of their data and facilitate the sharing of their test results with airlines and authorities for travel. It will also make it convenient for passengers to manage travel documentation throughout their journey.
The Travel Pass has been developed as four independent modules that can interact with each other. These modules cover registries for regulatory entry requirements and labs/test centres, verified certificate issuance, digital identity and the possibility for passengers to share their tests results along their journey via their mobile device.
Etihad Airways
We’ve partnered with @IATA to launch the ATA Travel Pass, an app that will help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. Find our more: https://t.co/TbWg0yZBVT pic.twitter.com/LhRKFqR6LL
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) January 19, 2021
IATA Travel Pass will initially be offered to Etihad Airways guests on selected flights from Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2021. If successful, the pass will be extended to other destinations on the Etihad network.
According to Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, ‘COVID-19 tests and vaccinations will be key to get the world flying again. Since August 1, 2020, Etihad is the only airline requiring a pre-departure negative PCR test result for all passengers worldwide, and again on arrival in Abu Dhabi, giving our guests the added assurance of safety when they travel with us.’
Emirates
Emirates becomes one of the first airlines in the world to trial @IATA Travel Pass, a global digital platform for COVID-19 updates and test verification. https://t.co/9XBs7RHNKz#FlySaferWithEmirates #FlyEmiratesFlyBetter pic.twitter.com/uTSTESDmeG
— Emirates Airline (@emirates) January 19, 2021
Prior to a full roll-out, Emirates will implement phase 1 in Dubai for the validation of COVID-19 PCR tests before departure. In this initial phase, expected to begin in April, Emirates customers travelling from Dubai will be able to share their COVID-19 test status directly with the airline even before reaching the airport through the app, which will then auto-populate the details on the check-in system.
‘We have worked with IATA on this innovative solution to simplify and digitally transmit the information that is required by countries and governments into our airline systems, in a secure and efficient manner. We are proud to be one of the first airlines in the world to pilot this initiative, which will provide an enhanced customer experience and conveniently facilitate our customers’ travel needs,’ said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer.
Picture: Twitter/@emirates
