Singapore Airlines (SIA) has started trials on a digital health verification app that validates passengers’ Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses.
The trial, which started on Wednesday, is aimed at facilitating the revival of air travel.
Under the trial, travellers on SIA flights from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur will be given either a digital certificate or paper health certificates with a QR code if they take their COVID-19 tests at selected clinics.
Singapore’s immigration authority will then scan the QR code to verify the authenticity of the certificates, and ensure that passengers meet the requirements to enter the country.
SIA may extend the digital health verification process to other cities in its network if the trials are successful.
It also plans to integrate the process into its SingaporeAir mobile app from mid-2021.
Application Developed By Temasek-Founded Company
The application is developed by Affinidi, a Temasek-founded company.
SIA has also collaborated with various partners on the trial, including the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Changi Airport Group.
According to SIA, its digital health verification process is the first in the world to be based on the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass.
The IATA Travel Pass is a global and standardised solution to validate and authenticate all country regulations regarding COVID-19 passenger travel requirements.
Minister of Transport Ong Ye Kung said in a Facebook post that he applauds the industry’s initiative, and the government would “support this as much as [we] can, to make this a regional or international practice.”
Facilitating The Reopening Of The Travel Industry
Singapore currently has plans to form Air Travel Bubbles (ATB) with other nations, various green and fast lane arrangements, and has since opened up its borders to China, Australia and Taiwan.
With a digital passport app, it will facilitate and speed up the verification of passengers’ Covid-19 test results and vaccination statuses.
As a result, travel can then be conducted seamlessly as travel increases.
Since COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to Singaporeans soon and travel will increase, this app will definitely serve an important role.
Featured Image Credit: Changi Airport Group
