Passengers flying on new ‘Covid-free’ flights between Atlanta and Rome will have their negative status certified using a digital health passport developed by risk services company International SOS and partners.
Delta and Alitalia said they would commence regular flights on which every passenger will have tested negative for Covid from 19 December and that passengers arriving in Italy can avoid going into quarantine.
The ICC AOKpass app, developed by Singapore-based start-ups AOKpass and Perlin in partnership with International SOS and the International Chamber of Commerce, uses blockchain technology to enable individuals to securely store digital verification of medical certificates. This includes results of the PCR test taken 72 hours before departure and rapid tests taken in both Atlanta and Rome as part of the new flight trials.
Ivan Bassato, executive vice president of operations at Aeroporti di Roma, said, “ICC AOKpass ensures enhanced security data-wise to those who rely on air travel, and the airports and airlines, servicing their needs”.
Successful trials of the ICC AOKpass took place in September on fligths between Pakistan and Abu Dhabi.
The ICC AOKpass is one of a number of digital health passport projects announced this year.
In November IATA announced a new collaboration with the International Airlines Group.
The CommonPass platform, developed by the World Economic Forum, is to be used on five airlines from this month - United Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Swiss International Air Lines and JetBlue.
The issue of digital health passports is likely to become a critical one.
International SOS says that some experts predict that as vaccines begin to roll out many travel companies will require travelling individuals to have taken a vaccine, with this information stored securely on certification apps.
At the end of November, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told Australia’s 9 News that international travellers would be required to have proof of vaccination before they can get on one of its aircraft.