EMIRATES BEGINS DIGITAL COVID PASSPORT TRIAL
Dubai-barcelona passengers try IATA Travel Pass
Emirates airline on Thursday started the trial of a ‘digital Covid-19 passport’. The ‘passport’, called the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass, is a mobile app that can help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirement for Covid-19 testing or vaccine information.
Emirates’ passengers who travelled from Dubai to Barcelona on EK185 on Thursday were the first to trial the pass to verify and share their pre-travel Covid-19 test status with the airline.
“The ability to process passengers’ Covid-relevant data for travel digitally will be the way forward. We are pleased to have been pioneers and partner with IATA in trialling this initiative in real time and soon will be launching other initiatives to further enhance our customer experience,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ chief operating officer.
The app, along with the innovative system it is part of, promises a convenient travel experience as flyers comply with each government’s Covid-related requirements.
With the app, travellers will be able to send all necessary documentation to airlines even before reaching the airport.
In the future, flyers will also be able to share vaccination certificates with the authorities to facilitate travel, according to a statement from Emirates.
The IATA Travel Pass trial is being done on selected Emirates flights from Dubai to Barcelona and London Heathrow to Dubai. It will soon be expanded to include other routes.
Eligible passengers are being personally invited to download the app and enrol for the digital travel pass ahead of their travels.
In Dubai, Emirates has partnered with select Prime Health Care labs, which are authorised to send test results to passengers via the app. Those travelling from the UK can get their tests done at select Screen4 labs.
The IATA Travel Pass app will have an integrated registry of travel requirements to enable passengers to find accurate information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations, regardless of their itinerary.
Eventually, it will also include a registry — 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 global registry, managed by IATA, will manage and allow the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders and provide a seamless passenger experience.