Singapore has accepted the use of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s digital health passport as a valid form of COVID-19 status certification for entry into the country, following successful trials by Singapore Airlines.
From 1 May, passengers travelling to Singapore will be able to use the IATA Travel Pass to share their pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test results upon check-in with their airline, as well as on arrival at the immigration checkpoints at Singapore Changi Airport.
This is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and IATA to facilitate seamless and efficient travel through digital certificates of COVID-19 tests.
Willie Walsh, Director General, IATA, said: “Having the confidence of an aviation leader like Singapore accept IATA Travel Pass is hugely significant. Ongoing trials put us on track for IATA Travel Pass to be a critical tool for the industry’s restart by delivering verified travel health credentials to governments. And travellers can have complete confidence that their personal data is secure and under their own control. The success of our joint efforts will make IATA’s partnership with the government of Singapore a model for others to follow.”
“We have built upon our long standing and deep partnership with IATA to develop solutions to facilitate travel,” added Kevin Shum, Director-General, CAAS. “This latest collaboration with IATA demonstrates our shared commitment to drive the adoption of digital health certificates and restore international air travel. As we look to safely rebuild the Changi air hub, we will continue to explore other solutions that can provide similarly secure and verifiable means of sharing health certificates for safe international travel.”
Digital health certificates are expected to be a key feature in air travel moving forward, and more than 20 airlines have announced trials of the IATA Travel Pass.
For more information on how IATA’s Travel Pass is using blockchain technology to keep passengers in control of their data, read our recent interview with Alan Murray Hayden, Head Airport, Passenger and Security Products, IATA.
