IATA plans to launch travel pass this month; in talks with Indian authorities, airline firms

NEW DELHI: To provide easier air travel amid the Coronavirus pandemic, global airlines’ body IATA plans to launch its travel pass by the end of March and is also in talks with Indian authorities and carriers for using the pass in India.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has around 290 airlines as members, including Air India, Vistara, IndiGo and SpiceJet.

The IATA Travel Pass will be a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID19 tests or vaccines. There is a need to have a global and standardised solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel requirements.

IATA Regional Director for Airports and External Relations (Asia Pacific) Vinoop Goel told PTI that the pass will move existing paper processes to a digital platform and joins it with up-to-date information on entry requirements. This will also make the process more convenient and help avoid fraudulent documentation.

“There will be paper-based alternatives for people who do not have mobile phones, albeit less convenient ones. IATA is already managing health requirements through its Timatic solution, so IATA Travel Pass is a natural evolution to support the industry during the pandemic,” he noted. The first cross-border pilot project for the pass was announced at the end of 2020.