Singapore Airlines (SIA) will become the world’s first airline to pilot the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass mobile application for digital health verification. This will start with passengers travelling from Singapore to London from March 15 to 28, 2021.
Passengers with mobile phones running on Apple’s iOS operating system will be invited to download the IATA Travel Pass app, and create a digital ID comprising their profile photo and passport information. They can also insert their flight information into the app.
Subsequently, they can book their pre-departure COVID-19 test at one of seven participating clinics in Singapore via a dedicated online portal. They can then register at the clinic using the digital ID and flight information in the app. They will be able to view their test results, as well as confirmation status to fly, directly on the app. IATA’s Timatic registry will provide the back-end information on the COVID-19 testing and entry requirements.
Participants will need to show their confirmed status in the app to the check-in staff at Changi Airport before flight departure. In line with current regulatory requirements, they will also need to bring a physical copy of their health certificate that is issued by the clinic where they took their COVID-19 test.
Participants will also have full control over how their personal information is shared, as the data is stored locally in the mobile phone and not in any central database, said a release by SIA.
“The first phase of the trials helped to support SIA’s drive towards a secure and convenient industry standard for the verification of COVID-19 test results, and the health status of passengers including their vaccination status, in the future,” said JoAnn Tan, Acting Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines. “That gives us the confidence that in the second phase, we can further streamline the verification process for eventual integration into SIA’s mobile application. This will help to provide a hassle-free digital solution for our customers in the new normal, and help to bring about a more seamless travel experience.”
If successful, the pilot will pave the way for the integration of the entire digital health verification process into the SingaporeAir mobile app from around mid-2021, using IATA’s Travel Pass framework.
“Our partnership with Singapore Airlines for the first full deployment of the IATA Travel Pass will help get the world flying again. In the immediate term, it is the solution for travellers to safely and securely manage their travel health credentials. In the longer term, the digital identity elements of the IATA Travel Pass will place Singapore Airlines passengers at the front of the queue for an even more convenient contactless travel experience,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President Airport, Passenger, Cargo, and Security.