Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The International Air Transport Association (IATA), Monday announced a partnership to trial IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass that aims to support the safe reopening of borders and assist in the industry recovery from COVID-19 pandemic impact. IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that will enable passengers to create digital passports where test and vaccine data can be securely loaded and shared, to ensure that governmental health requirements are fulfilled both at the departure and destination points. Saudia will begin to introduce the IATA Travel Pass on its network, starting first with a trial that is set to take place on the Kuala Lumpur–Jeddah route later this month, on April 19. Guests traveling with Saudia will be able to visit a designated laboratory in Malaysia to complete PCR test requirements, which can then be uploaded on the IATA Travel App for use in onward travel to Saudi Arabia. Saudia is among the world's leading airlines to partner with IATA on this robust initiative that will assist in helping in providing seamless travel free of the hassles faced by passengers as they cross the borders. Following the trial, once the IATA Travel Pass is finalized, it will be rolled out across the airline's network. Saudia Chief Commercial Officer Khalid Albassam stated that "Saudia is keen to partner with IATA in this innovative digital solution which will assist in steering industry recovery and facilitating the travel process for all stakeholders, the passenger, the airline, the testing labs and the border authorities." "Saudia continues to lead the way in safety measures and ease of travel with electronic solutions and the IATA Travel Pass partnership is another reinforcement that readiness and usage of contactless methods is the way forward for travel journeys," Albassam added. "We're proud to work with Saudia to make IATA Travel Pass available in Saudi Arabia. This is the first step in making regional and international travel during the pandemic as convenient as possible giving people the confidence that they are meeting COVID-19 government health requirements. "IATA Travel Pass holds the key to the safe restart of the travel and tourism industry, which is an important contributor to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's economy," said Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security. — SG
