In an effort to fast-track global airline travel, Iata is developing a digital Travel Pass – essentially an international health passport – that will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travellers.
“Our main priority is to get people travelling again safely. In the immediate term that means giving governments the confidence that systematic COVID-19 testing can work as a replacement for quarantine requirements. And that will eventually develop into a vaccine programme,” explained Iata Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, Nick Careen.
It could be used in combination with other providers or as a standalone end-to-end solution. “The most important thing is that it is responsive to industry’s needs while enabling a competitive market.”
Noting that international borders were currently “double-locked”, Iata Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, said testing was the first key to enabling international travel without quarantine measures.
“The second key is the global information infrastructure needed to securely manage, share and verify test data matched with traveller identities in compliance with border control requirements.
“That’s the job of Iata Travel Pass. We are bringing this to market in the coming months to also meet the needs of the various travel bubbles and public health corridors that are starting operation,” said De Juniac.
