(08 Mar 2021)
Singapore Airlines is set to become the world’s
first airline to pilot the IATA Travel Pass for digital health
verification, starting with passengers travelling from Singapore
to London between 15 to 28 March 2021.

The pilot marks the second phase of SIA’s digital
health verification process trials, which is based on the IATA
Travel Pass framework.

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
COVID19 test at one of seven participating clinics in Singapore
via a dedicated online portal. They 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 COVID19
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 the health
certificate that has been issued by the clinic where they took their
COVID19 test.

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, again using
IATA’s Travel Pass framework.

Ms JoAnn Tan, Acting Senior Vice President
Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines, said, “The first phase of
the trials helped to support SIA’s drive towards a secure and
convenient industry standard for the verification of COVID19 test
results, and the health status of passengers including their
vaccination status, in the future. 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.”

The Singapore Airlines – IATA
Travel Pass Pilot comes after a series of digital initiatives
launched by SIA to streamline digital health verification for
travellers.

SIA trialled the first phase of its digital health verification
process, the first in the world to be based on IATA’s Travel Pass
framework, in December 2020.

Customers who took their COVID19 tests at selected
clinics in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur were given either digital
or paper health certificates with a QR code. Airport check-in
staff and Singapore’s immigration authority verified the
authenticity of these certificates via a secure mobile app,
and ensured that the customers met  Singapore’s entry
requirements.

The trial has since recorded more than 200
successful health certificate verifications by SIA check-in
staff, with no fraudulent certificates detected.

In January 2021, SIA partnered with
Collinson to pilot an
one-stop online solution for COVID19 pre-departure testing
for passengers.

With pre-departure testing becoming a mandatory
requirement for more countries, the service would allow SIA’s
customers to book their test appointments on an online booking
portal securely and seamlessly after making their flight bookings.

The pre-departure test service is currently available to Singapore
Airlines and SilkAir passengers departing from Singapore,
Jakarta and Medan. There are plans to expand this service to
more cities in the SIA and SilkAir network over the next few
months if the pilot is successful.

Mr. Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President
Airport, Passenger, Cargo, and Security said, “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.”

PODCAST

Editor’s note:
As the above video interview was conducted over the internet, I
would like to apologise that the audio and visual quality are not
up to the same HD/UHD quality that it normally would be. Hopefully it won’t be too
long until we are once again conducting exclusive video interviews
in person, but for now we have to make do with what we have. Thank
you.

See also:

Future of Airline Distribution and NDC – Interview with Yanik
Hoyles, IATA (November 2019).

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