Singapore To Accept COVID-19 Digital Travel Pass In May 2021
It was previously reported that Singapore was hoping to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated visitors after they lifted their lockdown measures in June 2020.
Singapore’s aviation regulator said on Monday that the country will next month accept travelers who have a mobile travel pass, containing digital certificates for approved COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. This will make Singapore one of the first countries to adopt the mobile initiative.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) mobile travel pass
As from next month, travelers will be able to get clearance to fly to and enter Singapore by showing the International Air Transport Association (IATA) mobile travel pass on their smartphone at pre-departure checks. The smartphone app will contain their COVID-19 related data from accredited laboratories.
Singapore Airlines has already successfully tested the pass, while more than 20 other carriers, including Qatar Airways, Emirates and Malaysia Airlines are also running tests on the mobile travel pass.
Speaking of the initiative, Reuters quotes IATA director general Willie Walsh, as saying, “The success of our joint efforts will make IATA’s partnership with the government of Singapore a model for others to follow.”
Singapore is a popular Asian business hub which has experienced relatively few COVID-19 cases this year. The island-state has been among the leaders in the development and use of technology during the pandemic. It now plans on being among the first countries to be able to reopen to host major international events.
Airlines hope to resume travel faster
The pandemic has had a disastrous effect on airlines and on travel as a whole worldwide and airlines are hoping that more countries will soon approve digital passes on smartphone apps. This would allow travel to resume more quickly and would help to prevent delays and complications at the airports, where a number of checks on documents are required. Having all the vital information in one place would certainly speed things up.
At the current time, Singapore requires incoming travelers from most countries to take pre-departure COVID-19 PCR tests within 72 hours of flying. The travelers then have to present their result when checking in at the airport and on arrival at their destination.
With the advent of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) mobile travel pass, travel would then be streamlined and hopefully trouble-free.
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