WHILE international travel remains as safe, there are new protocols and travel requirements with the current global pandemic.
The very first step is to make international travel during the pandemic as convenient as possible whilst giving people the confidence that they are meeting all COVID-19 entry requirements by governments.
Thus, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched the IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.
Emirates has partnered with the IATA to become one of the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass – to provide an enhanced customer experience and conveniently facilitate its customers’ travel needs.
IATA Travel Pass enables Emirates passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination.
They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel. The new app will also enable travellers to manage all travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.
Prior to a full roll out, Emirates will implement Phase 1 in Dubai for the validation of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests before departure.
In the initial phase which is expected to begin in April, passengers 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.
“As borders re-open, IATA Travel Pass will be further enhanced with more capabilities to meet all governments testing or vaccination verification requirements and Emirates customers will be among the first to have these services,” commented IATA’s senior vice president (airport, passenger, cargo and security) Nick Careen.
Within the IATA Travel Pass app, the integrated registry of travel requirements will also enable passengers to find accurate information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations regardless of where they are travelling from.
In addition, it will also include a registry of testing and eventually vaccination centres – 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.
The platform will also enable authorised labs and test centres to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers. The global registry will manage and allow the secure flow of necessary information among all stakeholders and to provide a seamless passenger experience. – Jan 20, 2021
