IATA launches Travel Pass

Currently, the requirements that travellers must live up to vary from country to country, and at the same time there are several different forms of testing (PCR, LAMP, spectroscopic and antibody tests). The handling of international travel is therefore more complex than previously for both immigration authorities and passengers as well as airlines. Among other things, IATA announces that airlines are experiencing problems verifying the authenticity of the many different test documents. At the same time, passengers demand concrete and easily accessible information about what requirements they are expected to live up to.

A possible solution

IATA has launched a so-called Travel Pass, which aims to create a global, standardized model to inform about and validate all coronavirus travel restrictions and requirements for passengers. Airlines that choose to use the IATA Travel Pass will be able to give their passengers the opportunity to create a "digital passport" in the form of an app on their smartphones. This will include coronavirus test results, as well as a verification of them being approved for the trip in question. The app will also consist of information on what tests, vaccinations or other precautions are required that passengers undertake before entering the country in question.

A system that can be incorporated into pre-existing apps or used independently

As an app, the IATA Travel Pass consists of four stand-alone elements. Part of the app can inform passengers about any test and vaccination requirements prior to their trip. The second part can shed light on where in the country of departure the passenger can find test facilities that meet the requirements of the country of destination. A third element of the app allows authorized laboratories and test centres to send test results and vaccination certificates safely to passengers. The fourth element of IATA Travel Pass' technology consists of the aforementioned "digital passport", where passengers can gather all relevant information.

The four elements can be used together and therefore constitute an "end-to-end" solution but can also be used separately as a complement to other systems. In this case, airlines will potentially be able to incorporate IATA Travel Pass technology into existing apps.

IUNO’s opinion

There are many legal issues with making corona passports, for example in relation to protection of privacy as well as rules on discrimination. IATA does also not propose that the airlines be obliged to use the new Travel Pass. But the initiative can help form the basis for what the companies can demand of their passengers and how they can do so. In this case, some companies may choose to set strict rules for travellers and comply with the rules of IATA's proposal for a Travel Pass, while others will do the opposite. Time will tell whether IATA's Travel Pass will set the standard in this area.