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QATAR AIRWAYS has become the first airline in the Middle East to trial the IATA Travel Pass digital health passport app. Passengers on the carrier’s Doha-Istanbul route were the first to be invited to take part in the trial, which Qatar Airways said will offer “a more safe, secure and contactless experience for travellers”.

The airline has partnered with IATA, the Qatar Ministry of Public Health, Primary Health Care Corporation and Hamad Medical Corporation for the trial, which kicked off last month. The IATA Travel Pass app enables passengers to receive COVID-19 test results and verify that they are eligible to undertake their journey through an ‘OK to Travel’ status.

Qatar Airways said the app will also ensure “passengers receive up-to-date information on COVID-19 health regulations at their destination country”.