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Airlines' new 'health passport' could revive international travel
Airlines likely to require proof of vaccine prior to boarding
Chris McGinnis, SFGATE
Nov. 27, 2020 | Updated: Nov. 27, 2020 4:01 a.m.
As more governments turn to mandatory COVID-19 testing for travelers in place of mandatory 14-day quarantines after arrival, the world’s airlines are developing a digital health passport that will collect and standardize coronavirus-related passenger data for border crossings and could jump-start international travel once it is widely used. Eventually, the current proof of negative test results prior to travel could be supplanted by proof of vaccination.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade group of the world’s airlines, said this week that its new IATA Travel Pass is in the final stage of development. “IATA Travel Pass will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travelers,” the organization said.
The Travel Pass includes four “interoperable modules” that can be combined to provide information and solutions for all aspects of international travel in the age of COVID, IATA said, including a global registry of government health requirements for travelers; a similar registry of testing and vaccination centers; an app that lets testing centers and labs securely share test results and vaccinations records with passengers; and a contactless travel app that lets users store their test and vaccination certificates, sharing them as required with airlines and government officials.
IATA said it expects to start pilot-testing its Travel Pass for transborder trips later this year with International Airlines Group (parent of British Airways, Iberia and others) and to launch it formally in the first quarter of 2021 for Apple devices and in April for Android. For more details on how it will work, click here.
We’ve already seen some individual airline efforts to incorporate COVID testing into their requirements for international travelers. A United flight last week from Newark to London was the airline’s first that required all travelers to test negative for the coronavirus. That was achieved by subjecting all passengers to rapid testing at the airport (at no charge) before boarding the aircraft.
"These flights are a good proof-of-concept for governments around the world that are considering making testing part of the travel experience," said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer for United. "Expanding our testing efforts with pilot programs like this one not only helps guarantee passengers onboard test negative for COVID-19, it also adds another element to our layered approach to safety and demonstrates a way to work within quarantines to key international destinations."
Qantas will require proof of a vaccination for all passengers when it resumes long-haul international flights next year.
Qantas will require proof of a vaccination for all passengers when it resumes long-haul international flights next year.
Qantas
This week, United expanded its COVID program by offering mail-in testing for passengers on its flights from Houston Bush Intercontinental to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean that require a negative test result for entry. And last week, American Airlines and British Airways started optional coronavirus testing for passengers on select flights to London from Dallas, New York and Los Angeles. In that project, eligible passengers will volunteer to be tested three times — once 72 hours before departure, again at London Heathrow after arrival, and a third time three days after arrival. “The three-test approach aims to validate a customer’s negative status for COVID-19 throughout the travel journey and will provide insight into the most effective and practical testing interval,” American said. “The third test is intended to further confirm the results of the first two tests, to demonstrate that one or two tests will be sufficient to allow travel to safely restart.”
As COVID vaccines are approved and distributed to the public, proof of vaccination will eventually replace proof of a negative COVID test as the primary requirement for international travelers. Australia’s Qantas has ended all long-haul international flights until sometime next year, but CEO Alan Joyce said in an interview this week that when it does resume intercontinental travel, it will likely require proof of a COVID vaccination before passengers will be allowed to board the aircraft.
Written By Chris McGinnis
Chris McGinnis is the senior travel correspondent for SFGate. Email Chris
Airlines' new 'health passport' could revive international travel
