The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has made travelling for passengers a lot more troublesome than it used to be, with additional documentation and safety measures required before entry and exit is allowed in dozens of countries throughout the world.

This then paved the way for various innovative solutions developed by numerous companies, such as the IATA Travel Pass, which effectively acts as a digital passport for passengers, storing important documentation such as Covid-19 test results, vaccination certifications and any other information that would be required in a single application.

Such an innovation is aimed at not only improving efficiency and reliability when it comes to cross-border travel but also at bringing about environmental benefits through the digitization of what would otherwise be a paper-heavy solution.

Emirates Takes The Lead

Several airlines worldwide have piloted successful trials but had yet to actually implement the technology into their operations until Emirates announced this week it had signed a contract with IATA to fully implement the digital innovation across its network worldwide, making the Gulf carrier to be the first airline to do so.

This initiative follows the well-resulted trials that Emirates piloted in April using selected routes from its hub in Dubai, which were then expanded to its customers as well in June.

With full implementation, the IATA Travel Pass will be made available to Emirates passengers travelling from 50 cities initially, before it gradually extends to all of the airline’s 120 over destinations by October.

“We are pleased to partner with IATA on the IATA Travel Pass solution from early pilot trials to full implementation and we will continue to work closely with IATA on enhancements to facilitate even more secure and smoother journeys for travellers,” Emirates Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said in a statement.

With regard to how the full implementation will be a big help to passengers, IATA Senior Vice President of Operations, Safety and Security Nick Careen said in a statement that it would be similar to a “one-stop-shop” that provides and stores everything “through a secure automated process.”

Investing in Innovation

Even prior to the pandemic, Emirates was known to be one of the more creative airlines in the industry, having consistently invested in various technologies for the benefit of its passengers.

The likes of biometric technology in the boarding gates, lounges and even check-in counters are just some of the investments that the Gulf carrier carried out. The airline said the investments paid off as Covid-19 continued to ravage the industry, as the touch-free experience proved useful throughout the airline’s process amid heightened concerns of health and safety.

Having seen a positive trend in the use of biometric technology since the pandemic hit, Emirates have made plans with Dubai International Airport to further expand the implementation of biometric technology.

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Charlotte Seet

Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.

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