(TAN): Air New Zealand is working to streamline the health verification process to help customers know what they need to take their next international trip safely. For this purpose, the airline will trial the digital Travel Pass app developed by International Air Transport Association (IATA) on its Auckland-Sydney route in April.
Air New Zealand Chief Digital Officer Jennifer Sepull said the goal is to enable customers to seamlessly manage their digital travel documentation throughout their travel experience. “Once borders reopen, travel is going to look very different, with customers’ health data needing to be verified at check-in. It’s essentially like having a digital health certificate that can be easily and securely shared with airlines. This will give customers peace of mind that they meet all travel requirements for the different countries around the world before they even get to the airport,” she said.
“By having a place to store all your health credentials digitally in one place, it will not only speed up the check-in process but unlock the potential for contactless travel,” she added.
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Customer privacy is at the heart of the design, the airline said in a statement. There is no central database storing personal information – rather it is shared at the travellers’ discretion, in a safe and secure way.
The trial of the digital travel pass will run for three weeks once the app hits app/android store shelves in April and both aircrew and customers will be invited to join the trial. The airline is in conversation with government agencies about options for validation of testing and vaccination.
Customers will be able to create a digital health wallet linked to their e-passport. Once travellers have been tested and/or vaccinated, labs will securely send data to the individual’s app. It then checks requirements for travel against the data and customers who meet those travel requirements will be given the green tick to travel.
