New IATA partnership will allow secure Covid-19 testing
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has made an agreement with Eurofins to incorporate its worldwide Covid-19 testing network into IATA Travel Pass
Eurofins offers bio-analytical testing, with 800 laboratories across 50 countries. As part of the partnership, Eurofins’ dedicated Covid-19 portfolio encompassing multiple test types and hundreds of Covid-19 sampling stations globally will be made available through the IATA Travel Pass.
Amid the pandemic, coronavirus testing is required for most international travel. As part of the IATA Travel Pass initiative, Eurofins laboratories will provide secure, verified test results to travellers using the app. This result is checked against the IATA Travel Pass registry of national entry requirements to produce an ‘OK to Travel’ status. Through the app passengers can share their status and digital test certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.
Trials to begin in the coming weeks
Trials of IATA Travel Pass incorporating the global Eurofins network are expected to begin with airlines piloting IATA Travel Pass across multiple regions in the coming weeks.
“Our partnership with Eurofins is another mark of quality for IATA Travel Pass, which is being built to the highest data security and privacy standards. Adding the extensive Eurofins network to the initiative will help travellers more conveniently adjust their travel preparations to meet the Covid-19 requirements,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
Secure testing a critical element in fight against Covid
Gilles Martin, Eurofins’ Chairman of the Board and CEO, added: “Fast, secure, high-quality testing is a critical element in the fight against the pandemic and enabling the return to normalised travel. We are delighted to be partnering with IATA and to support the IATA Travel Pass, to provide the testing gold standard to ensure people can travel with security and confidence.”
IATA Travel Pass will help travellers manage new travel processes, starting with understanding the requirements for travel and helping to identify labs that are certified to carry out the testing.