‘The ability to process passengers’ COVID-19 data for travel digitally is the way forward’ – Emirates COO

“The ability to process passengers’ COVID-19 relevant data for travel digitally will be the way forward,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer, as the airline commenced trials of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.

“We are pleased to have been pioneers and partner with IATA in trialling this initiative in real time and soon will be launching other initiatives to further enhance our customer experience,” he continued.

The first passengers travelling from Dubai to Barcelona on EK 185 trialled the ‘digital passport’, to verify and share their pre-travel COVID-19 test status with Emirates in a trial which the airline believes is the next step towards making travel more convenient.

The app enables travellers to manage COVID-19 related documentation digitally, safely and seamlessly throughout the travel experience, and it is intended that travellers will also be able to share vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel moving forward.

The trial is being done on selected Emirates flights from Dubai to Barcelona and London Heathrow to Dubai; and will soon be expanded to include other routes. Eligible passengers are being personally invited to download the app and enrol for the digital travel pass ahead of their travels.

The IATA Travel Pass app will have an integrated registry of travel requirements to enable passengers to find accurate information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations regardless of their itinerary. 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 which meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination.