All of the Questions that are Wondered About IATA Travel Pass Planned to be Used in International Travels

While some countries accept tourists within the framework of certain precautions because of the pandemic, some countries are still closed to tourists. International air travel was unavoidably disrupted by the implementation of strict entry rules and regulations, including quarantine and testing measures. Then, how can international travel be made safer?

A new digital passport application may be helpful for traveling internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past weeks, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shared with the press that they are working on an application that could be the key to reopening international borders safely. IATA also announced that the IATA Travel Pass, which can be used as a digital "passport", is in its last development phase. It was claimed that the IATA Travel Pass is an application which is designed for accessing information about the user's test results, evidence of vaccination (when vaccinations are available) and an electronic copy of their passport.

For reviving aviation, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) decided to implement this extensive practice to allow airline passengers to present their credentials in a simple way to airlines and governments. It is possible to find answers to the questions that can be wondered about IATA Travel Pass in the content for now and in the future.

What is IATA Travel Pass?

The IATA Travel Pass is an application that aims to manage and verify the safe flow of required test or vaccine information between governments, airlines, laboratories and passengers. Thanks to the IATA Travel Pass, all health information, vaccination records and digital passports will be accessible on this application for travelers within the framework of the rules set by both governments and airlines.

What Can IATA Travel Pass Improve in the Travel Industry?

In light of the information based on ATA's website, the IATA Travel Pass is specifically designed to be an answer to the following travel needs:

Complexity and Diversity: The COVID-19 tests with the negative results that are required by governments around the world with various documents inevitably created a highly challenging environment where passengers, airlines and immigration officials struggled to find the precise information.

The Gap of Knowledge: Passengers need accurate and reliable information when traveling to another country. If passengers come across verified information, it will also be easier for passengers to act in line with this information.

Inefficiencies, Errors and Fraud: Countless data requirements from governments may lead to confusion as check-in agents try to validate the large number of non-standard test certificates presented by passengers. Check-in transactions from different locations may also lead to inefficiency, errors, and even fraud.

What Will Be Changes In Travels With IATA Travel Pass?

Setting out to solve the travel problems that are mentioned above, IATA also requires systematic COVID-19 testing for all international travelers, as well as establishing the information infrastructure. In addition to this, the digital travel card (IATA Travel Pass) will also be beneficial for all parties involved in the travel process by directly addressing the problems. But how does it?

IATA Travel Pass will make it easy to verify the authenticity of required tests and the identity of those submitting test certificates for governments. The Travel Pass is based on the view by IATA that a uniform testing regime will create a security and health protocol that is more effective than quarantine requirements.

The IATA Travel Pass for airlines will enable them to provide their passengers with accurate information on testing requirements and verify that a passenger satisfies travel requirements.

The Travel Pass for Covid testing laboratories will provide passengers with tools for issuing and securely delivering digital test or vaccine certificates for tests required by governments.

Why Is IATA Travel Pass Important For International Travelers?

• Travelers who are registered on IATA's Timatic* platform can use the application to learn the details of the travel restrictions applicable to a specific destination. Users also will be able to read a QR code to share all information quickly with authorities. The application that will be built with blockchain technology will not store personal data.
• *Timatic is a database that contains the documentation requirements for passengers traveling internationally by airlines.
• The Travel Pass will be free of charge for both travelers and governments. On the contrary, airlines will have to pay a small fee for each passenger using the service during their travel.
• For international travels that are not connected to a specific digital system, the IATA Travel Pass will provide precise information about travels, test results and vaccine records for travels.
• The Travel Pass will allow passengers to find test centers and laboratories at their departure points that satisfy the standards for testing/vaccination requirements of their destination.
• The Travel Pass will help passengers create a "digital passport", verify that their tests/vaccinations comply with regulations, and share test or vaccine certificates with authorities to facilitate travel.
• The Travel Pass can be used by travelers to manage travel documents digitally and smoothly throughout the travel experience.

When Will IATA Travel Pass Be Available?

The first international IATA Travel Pass application is planned to be launched later this year, and the launch is predicted to take place in the first quarter of 2021.

* IATA is not the only developer working on the digital COVID-19 travel card. The World Economic Forum has developed an application which is called CommonPass, and the security firm International SOS continues to develop a similar service that is called AOKpass.