UAE’s Emirates, Etihad to roll out IATA’s Travel Pass for Covid-19 test results and vaccination certificates

Dubai carrier Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways have partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to trial the IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app that helps passengers manage their travel and  conform with relevant government requirements for Covid-19 testing or vaccine information.

In a statement issued by Emirates, the airline said that it will implement phase 1 in Dubai for the validation of Covid-19 PCR tests before departure. In this initial phase, expected to begin in April, Emirates customers travelling from Dubai will be able to share their Covid-19 test status directly with the airline even before reaching the airport through the app, which will then auto-populate the details on the check-in system.

“This is the first step in making international travel during the pandemic as convenient as possible giving people the confidence that they are meeting all Covid-19 entry requirements by governments. As borders re-open, IATA Travel Pass will be further enhanced with more capabilities to meet all governments testing or vaccination verification requirements and Emirates customers will be among the first to have these services,” said Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president for Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.

Emirates becomes one of the first airlines in the world to trial @IATA Travel Pass, a global digital platform for COVID-19 updates and test verification. https://t.co/9XBs7RHNKz#FlySaferWithEmirates #FlyEmiratesFlyBetter pic.twitter.com/uTSTESDmeG

— Emirates Airline (@emirates) January 19, 2021

IATA Travel Pass permits passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of their destination.

They will also be able to share these test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.

The platform will also enable authorised labs and test centres to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers.

Within the IATA Travel Pass app, the integrated registry of travel requirements will also allow passengers to find accurate information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations regardless of where they are travelling from.

It will even include a registry of testing and eventually vaccination centres – 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 facilitate the secure flow of necessary information amongst all stakeholders involved in the travel process.

On Tuesday, Etihad and IATA too said that they had reached an agreement to roll out the Travel Pass for passengers.

We’ve partnered with @IATA to launch the ATA Travel Pass, an app that will help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. Find our more: https://t.co/TbWg0yZBVT pic.twitter.com/LhRKFqR6LL

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) January 19, 2021

IATA Travel Pass will initially be offered to Etihad’s guests on select flights from Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2021. If successful, the pass will be extended to other destinations on the Etihad network.

“Covid-19 tests and vaccinations will be key to get the world flying again. Since August 1, 2020, Etihad is the only airline requiring a pre-departure negative PCR test result for all passengers worldwide, and again on arrival in Abu Dhabi, giving our guests the added assurance of safety when they travel with us,” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, COO of Etihad Aviation Group.