icon
article-hero

Singapore Airlines Is The World's First Airline To Trial COVID-19 Travel Pass App

avatar-name

Faruq Senin •  Mar 09, 2021

Though travelling might seem like a distant memory now, we know many of you can't wait to jump on that first flight out of the country. With Covid-19 tests, vaccinations and quarantines, flying will never be the same again. But airlines like Singapore Airlines are hoping to make it easier for travellers to fly. It will be testing a Covid-19 travel pass app which will allow travellers to view Covid-19 test results, store health information like vaccination statuses and more.

The app was developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Singapore Airlines will be the first airline to test it out. The trial will be for passengers flying from Singapore to London from 15-28 March 2021.

It aims to make travelling in a post-Covid world more seamless by bringing health and travel records together in one place. With the app, travellers will need to create a digital ID with a photo, add their passport information and flight information (optional). They can then view their Covid-19 test results and check their confirmation status to fly. Currently, there are 7 participating clinics in Singapore where travellers can book their tests for the trial through an online portal and once there, they can register using their travel information in the app.

At Changi Airport, travellers will need to show their confirmed status in the app to check-in staff before flying. Due to current regulatory requirements, travellers would still have to show airport staff a physical copy of their health certificate issued by the clinic.

If the trial is a success, the app might be launched globally too. Currently, other airlines like Malaysia Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Air New Zealand have also mentioned that they would be testing the app.

P.S. Wondering how flying would be like post-Covid? Check out our article here

Credit: IATA on Facebook

The app is also only available on Apple iOS devices for now and it isn't compulsory for everyone to share their health information on the app. Singapore Airlines has also said that participants of the trial will have full control over how their personal information is shared as the data is only in their mobile phone and not in any central database.

While travelling might not be on the cards anytime soon, this travel pass app is definitely a positive way forward and it could potentially mean that they would be no quarantine or stay-home notices for travellers. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments section!