Health passports have officially taken off in the UAE, with Emirates Airline pressing the button on a pilot of the digital travel document.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass – which comes in handy mobile-app form – allows COVID-19 testing and vaccine information to be stored in a single, cross-organisation-recognised place.
It’s all designed to make our return to the skies turbulence-free, which comes as blinding news for all of us itching to smell fresh ink in our (actual) passports this summer.
The trial is underway on flights between Dubai and Barcelona, as well as Dubai to Heathrow (London), with the first passengers to use the Travel Pass ushered on to a flight to Spain on Thursday.
At this end, Emirates has partnered with select Prime Health Care labs, which are authorised to securely send test results to passengers via the app.
Those travelling from London – subject to UK government rules – can get their test done at select Screen4 labs.
The IATA Travel Pass app will have an integrated registry of travel requirements so that flyers can cut through potential mountains of literature to get straight to the information that concerns their journey. This includes entry requirements for all destinations.
Eventually it will also include a registry of labs, making it more convenient for passengers to find testing centres and labs at their departure location.
And that means more time on the beach when touching down in our great city. Just don’t forget to pack the sun cream, as summer is fast approaching.
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