Malaysia Airlines trials IATA Travel Pass app on KL-London flights
File photo by Mohd Suhaimi Mohamed Yusuf/The Edge
KUALA LUMPUR (April 29): Malaysia Airlines is conducting a trial on the IATA Travel Pass app on flights out of Kuala Lumpur to London from today until May 27.
In a statement, the national carrier said it is the first airline in the country and one of the first few in the world to trial the app, which is used for digital health verification.
“Selected passengers travelling on MH4 [that] departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 9.05am this morning were the first to have access to the new application, bringing all the information passengers need to know in order to travel in one simple easy-to-navigate application.
“At this stage, only passengers with mobile phones running the Ios operating system were able to take part in the pilot,” it said.
According to Malaysia Airlines, the IATA Travel Pass acts as a “centralised hub for all the necessary information” to allow passengers to fly amid changing travel requirements and strict safety and security by making it easier for authorities to see their verification and flight status approval.
“It will allow passengers to create a digital ID comprising their profile photos coupled with an ePassport formed from their passport information. Passengers can input the details of their travels on to the application and receive up-to-date information on the travel requirements of their journey.
“With 15 clinics and accredited testing labs across the Klang Valley and more to come as the airline works towards a network-wide roll-out, passengers will be able to use the ‘Connect’ feature on the application to register at the clinic/lab with the flight information and digital ID logged on it. Centralised on the app, passengers will then be able to view their test results as well as their confirmation to fly directly,” it said.
However, it noted that at this stage of the trial, passengers must still present their physical documents at check-in as per government and airline requirements, with their confirmed status expediting the process.
“With the sensitive nature of the information shared, passengers have full control over their personal information, as passenger data and information are stored locally on the passengers' mobile phones instead of a centralised database,” it explained.
Malaysia Airlines is carrying out the pilot in preparation for its own Digital Travel Health Pass on its mobile app, it added.
“It will also be able to properly shape the final version of the airline’s Digital Travel Health Pass, taking into account technical and cultural factors to make it more user-friendly and approachable for passengers,” it said.
According to Malaysia Airlines’ group chief marketing and customer experience officer Lau Yin May, the carrier continues to work closely with stakeholders, governments, fellow airlines, and Covid-19 testing and vaccination labs in using digital solutions to create safe, contactless solutions to restart the travel industry safely and securely.
“We look forward to the future, where we can empower our passengers to travel once again, with freedom back in their hands and the opportunity to embark on their long-awaited travels safely, from seeking new perspectives, to reuniting with loved ones and discovering amazing experiences,” she added.
Meanwhile, IATA’s senior vice president of airport, passenger, cargo, security Nick Careen said: “The IATA Travel Pass trial with Malaysia Airlines is an important first step towards integrating the unique functions of the app into the airlines’ own app. Travel Pass was developed to support a smooth and efficient travel experience, helping travellers to fly safely and manage Covid-19 requirements from the palm of their hands. And having it integrated into the Malaysia Airlines’ app provides the ultimate in convenience for passengers.”
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