Airline Associations Urge Testing & Vaccination Coordination

Letter to EU Council seeks to “save what remains of the tourism and air transport sectors by applying a coordinated approach.”

“It is high time for EU Member States to finally agree to ensure a common approach to cross-border travel,” declared an open letter from a group of more than a dozen airline-related associations. The letter was directed at the Presidency of the European Union Council.

Among the signatories of the letter are Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), and the European Cockpit Association (ECA).

The letter emphasised “the need for improved coordination on the recognition of coronavirus tests, passenger locator forms and vaccination certificates.”

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“It is clear today that coordination of Covid-19 related measures amongst all EU Member States, including coordinated travel restrictions, is essential if we are to restore confidence in both the tourism and aviation sector in time for the upcoming season.”

The group calling itself the Airline Coordination Platform, urged that “restrictive measures, such as travel restrictions, vaccination certificates, and testing requirements, continue to negatively affect both tourism and aviation in Europe and should be removed when possible, taking a risk-based approach.”

Among their recommendations for “harmonisation” of government travel policies:

“The current patchwork of restrictions across Europe is causing confusion among Europe’s travel and tourism industries and its workers,” the letter stated. “Lack of predictability on these measures effectively impedes air transport connectivity, which puts employment at risk across the sector. Unilateral approaches implemented by the Member States inevitably risk harming the EU both economically and socially.”

“A clear set of coordinated measures will help restore public confidence and is the only chance to save the upcoming summer season,” the letter concluded.

A Plethora of Passes

Airlines, airline associations, and data management companies are racing to develop and roll out digital health information apps that will enable airlines and customs officials to verify that a traveller has tested negative for Covid-19 or been properly vaccinated. Among them: IATA’s Travel Pass, the IBM Digital Health Pass, Accredify’s Digital Health Passport, SITA Health Project, Singapore-based Affinidi, Common Pass, VeriFLY, and ICC AOKPass.

IATA Travel Pass is a mobile phone app that stores verified certifications for Covid-19 tests or vaccines. When needed, the traveller will be prompted to release their certificates to authorities and other stakeholders. The first-cross border pilots started at the end of 2020 and the iOS and android launch is slated for the end of March. The first full pilot programme with Singapore Airlines begins the end of this month, followed by a pilot with IAG (British Airways, etc.) and trials with Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Copa Airlines, along with 15 other airlines.

Montréal and Geneva-based IATA says it “does not verify the test or vaccine results. We provide the means for registered labs to send test results and vaccine details with travelers in a secured manner whereby the details can be verified to guarantee authenticity of origin and integrity of the content. The IATA Travel Pass ensures that this transaction is secure and matches the identity of the traveler with the identity of the person taking the test/vaccination.”

Built on blockchain technology, the IBM Digital Health Pass is designed to enable organisations to verify health credentials for individuals based on criteria specified by the organization. “Privacy is central to the solution, and the digital wallet can allow individuals to maintain control of their personal health information and share it in a way that is secured, verifiable, and trusted,” the company states.

IBM is working with Accredify’s Digital Health Passport, which enabled Singapore government agencies to create tamper-proof Covid-19 discharge memos for foreign workers during the pandemic. Credentials created on one platform will be recognized by the other to create a seamless experience for individuals as they seek to travel across borders.

Singapore Airlines is testing the Digital Health Wallet from FCM Travel Solutions, based on the IATA Health Pass verification process, and could implement it fully by mid-2021.

Air transport IT specialist SITA (Geneva, Brussels, Amsterdam) recently launched Health Protect, trialled with travelers to the United Arab Emirates, and soon at Milan Malpensa Airport. Health Protect combines the functionality of passenger locator forms, health attestations, and travel declarations, as well as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). “Passengers without the required documentation, or considered high risk,” warns SITA, “will be unable to check in for their flight, ensuring they do not travel to the airport.”

Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss International, United and Virgin Atlantic are focusing on CommonPass, being developed by a nonprofit public trust called The Commons Project, “beholden to no governments and no commercial interests” and supported by the World Economic Forum (the Davos folks). The Commons Project “convened more than 350 public and private sector leaders from 52 countries to come together to design a common framework for safe border reopening … to help get the world moving again.”

VeriFLY, from Fairfax, Virginia banking authentication company Daon, has signed up American Airlines and British Airways.

The International Chamber of Commerce touts its medical AOKPass, supported by MedAire and being tested from 11 March on two Air France routes: Paris-CDG to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and CDG to Fort-de-France (Martinique).

What about those without mobile phones, or who aren’t or won’t get vaccinated? Vinoop Goel, Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Airports & External Relations for IATA, assured, “Digital will work with the majority and there will be exceptional processes allowed for those who do not have mobile phones or are not vaccinated.”