Kazakhstan’s award-winning national carrier Air Astana is the latest carrier undertaking trials of the IATA Travel Pass mobile application.
The IATA Travel Pass is designed to help travellers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for Covid-19 testing or vaccine information.
The IATA Travel Pass mobile application combines passenger PCR testing and vaccination information in relation to health requirements in different countries. The application also contains information on certified national laboratories where passengers can undertake a PCR test. The trial will take place on Air Astana flights between the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan and Istanbul between September 2-16, 2021.
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As part of the pass’s development, IATA prioritised three design elements for the app. These included top-level data privacy and security, with the app storing encrypted data that is then passed between traveller and airline or authority, with no central database or repository. In addition, meeting global standards recognised by governments was essential to ensure verified identity and test/vaccine information, and this is achieved through the use of government-issued ePassports to verify the identity of the user. Finally, the app’s integration into contactless travel processes.
“The IATA Travel Pass will greatly contribute to the resumption of international air travel, with the application significantly simplifying the organization flights,” says Air Astana Vice President, Alexander Neboga. ”This process delivers considerable convenience to passengers, reduces time for ground services and staff contact, as well as heightening identification of fake PCR certificates and vaccinations.”
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Air Astana is among 70 of the world’s leading airlines supporting IATA initiatives to re-open international air travel and adopting testing of the IATA Travel Pass mobile application. Other carriers to recently announce IATA Travel Pass trials include China Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates.
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