Countries adopt digital travel passports
Panama is accepting the IATA Travel Pass as a digital travel credential while France upgrades its TousAntiCovid app to include vaccination certificates
The government of Panama will accept the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass as a digital travel credential for passengers to store their Covid-19 test result, which is a current requirement for entry into the country. Panama thus becomes the first nation in the region to accept this new IATA application.
Peter Cerdá, IATA Regional Vice President for the Americas, said: "We are pleased that the government of Panama will allow passengers to use the IATA Travel Pass to manage their health credentials when traveling.
“Our cooperation with Panama in adopting electronic health certificates is a model for the region to follow, especially since the country provides significant air connectivity. Reliable and secure solutions for the verification of health credentials are essential to gain the trust of governments, restore consumer confidence and achieve a sustainable recovery for the industry.”
Solutions to make travel easier
Luis Oliva, Administrator General of the Authority of Government Innovation of Panama, added: "The development of solutions that make travel easier is the result of a long history of fruitful collaboration with IATA. This latest joint initiative highlights our shared commitment to drive the adoption of digital health certificates that facilitate the resumption of international air travel."
In parallel to the Panamanian government's acceptance of the IATA Travel Pass, Copa Airlines will run a live trial of the tool in late May. Once concluded, the airline aims to make IATA Travel Pass available to its passengers as a one-stop shop for checking compliance with travel rules and storing applicable certificates, while providing governments with full assurance of passenger identity and the authenticity of the credentials being presented.
France updates Covid tracing app to include vaccinations
Elsewhere, France has upgraded its Covid tracing app to include test results and vaccination certificates. The TousAntiCovid app was launched in October and is a free download in seven languages, including English.
UK newspaper The Guardian reported that the app has become the first in the EU to contain test results on mobile phones, and that from 29 April it will also carry vaccination certificates. Those taking a Covid test in France will receive a text or email giving them access to online documents that can be downloaded or printed. Past vaccination and test details will be downloadable from mid-May, the newspaper said.
The app will generate a secure QR code with traveller details, type of test or vaccine, and details of the doctor or laboratory, checkable against a national database.