Malaysia Airlines to roll out digital health pass
James ChappleMalaysia Airlines has announced plans to introduce a digital health pass for travel, which will be available from the airline’s mobile app – and will incorporate elements of Iata’s Travel Pass.
The pass will allow passengers to make appointments with certified medical partners for any necessary pre-departure PCR Covid tests, or to upload certification of Covid-19 vaccination.
It will also allow passengers to verify their eligibility to travel before departure to ensure they are compliant with global travel restrictions, and share their status with local authorities.
Additionally, Malaysia Airlines said the digital ID would promote an increasingly contactless journey in future, combining health data and certification with typical travel documents.
Izham Ismail, Malaysia Aviation Group group chief executive, said: “We are excited to make history together with Iata, and help reopen travel nationally and worldwide.
“Part of our promise to ensure passengers can fly confidently, the digital travel health pass will open the way for us to take the brave next step into the world in a post-pandemic time.”
Nick Careen, Iata senior vice-president airport, passenger, cargo and security, added: "Partnering with Malaysia Airlines to integrate Iata Travel Pass into the airlines’ own app is an important milestone for the Iata Travel Pass.
"It will demonstrate the apps interoperability, an important feature supporting its global uptake. Built with data privacy, security and convenience in mind, the Iata travel app is a solution that both governments and passengers can trust whether it is standalone or incorporated into an airline’s own travel app."
Malaysis Airlines said it would share more details "in the coming weeks" on its plans to roll the pass out via its existing app.
Iata has confirmed its Travel Pass platform will be ready in the spring; Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways are currently trialing the system, while Etihad has pledged to introduce it in the first quarter of 2021.
It comes after the association, in January, called for common vaccination certification across Europe.
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