Health passport: a digital solution for traveling

Faced with the current mobility restrictions between countries, airlines have considered the possibility of a health passport that encourages the movement of travelers and speeds up the procedures currently necessary.

As of March, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which covers more than 300 airlines, will launch an initiative with the objective of regaining normal air traffic.

What does a health passport consist of:

The initiative is about a mobile app, called 'IATA Travel Pass', from which passengers will be able to digitally access the vaccination tests for Covid-19, as well as the possible test results that have been carried out.

Therefore, through this tool, we can verify if we meet the requirements to be able to fly. In addition, vaccination certificates will be shared with authorities and airlines in order to speed up the process when traveling.

In this way, IATA will provide a digital solution to the traveler, without the need for physical documents, and being able to obtain it in a way Free through a download. This tool will last as long as the risk from the virus continues to be maintained. In addition, the app will assign the traveler a digital identity so that companies can confirm the owner of the health passport.

In addition, the app will include Destination country information on those requirements necessary for entry into that territory, as well as a list of vaccination and testing centers where the necessary procedures can be performed. In this way, the user will have a much easier experience when searching for these places in the destination country.

Users who are going to travel will be able to share their test certificates directly with the airline through the app, including before arriving at the airport, to then automatically complete the requirements in the billing system.

With this action, the objective will address the recovery of economic activity of those companies hit by the pandemic, as well as reconnecting travelers from all over the world in a more secure way.

First companies to apply the passport

Emirate and Etihad Airways will be the first airlines to test the application, according to the agreements they have reached with IATA. Etihand Airways with flights from Abu Dhabi starting in the first quarter of 2021 and Emirates starting in April

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