The Qantas Group has confirmed it will work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to roll out a digital health pass when regular Qantas and Jetstar international flights resume.
The airline says it decided to proceed with an IATA passport following trials of several digital solutions with its international repatriation flights in recent months.
The IATA Travel Pass promises a convenient and secure method for customers to verify COVID-19 test results and vaccination information with border or health officials and airline staff. The app connects customers to certified testing labs so results can be uploaded to the platform and customers can show they have a vaccine certificate and/or proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before their flight.
The IATA Travel Pass also matches a customer's health information against a specific flight, checks the entry requirements for the country they are travelling to and provides clearance to travel on that flight, to both the customer and airline.
"IATA Travel Pass delivers an advantage over other solutions in that the app enables travellers to create a digital ID derived from a government issued document such as a passport," said Nick Careen of the IATA.
"This means that airlines and governments can have full confidence in the test/vaccine results both from a content and identity perspective.
"Being able to validate the vaccination status of Australians returning from overseas is critical to enable Australia's four-phase national COVID-19 response plan announced earlier this month."
Final development on the pass is now underway, hoping to ensure the app is ready for use on Qantas and Jetstar international flights when they resume.
The announcement follows the Australian government's release of its four-phase national COVID-19 response plan earlier this month, which includes validating the vaccination status of Australians returning from overseas.
Many countries where Qantas and Jetstar operate to, including the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, have announced requirements of either a proof of vaccine or negative COVID-19 test result before travellers can enter without quarantine.
