IATA launches self-registration portal for Travel-Pass lab network

June 29, 2021 in Business, Companies, Foreign News, Technology & Telecoms, Travel & Tourism by Editor

International airline lobby IATA has launched a self-registration portal, through which COVID-19 testing labs can join the IATA Travel Pass Lab Network.

IATA’s Lab Network provides a list of eligible lab locations around the globe where travelers can easily find a location for a COVID-19 test prior to travel.  The newly launched portal provides a one-stop-shop for labs to self-register to be included in the Network.

Labs wishing to join the IATA Lab Network will be required to confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria and register through the new self-registration portal. Before they can be included in the IATA Travel Pass, IATA will validate the information and contact labs directly to finalize their registration.

“COVID-19 testing will be critical to a prolonged recovery to international travel for the foreseeable future. One aim of IATA Travel Pass is to make it as easy as possible for travelers to find eligible labs that meet the specific requirements of their journeys. Already IATA Travel Pass has an extensive network of labs which is rapidly expanding as more airlines use the IATA Travel Pass. The IATA Lab Network Self Registration Portal will make it easier for more labs to join so that we are ready to reliably meet the requirements of governments as and more people return to the skies,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety and Security.

Once labs have joined the IATA Travel Pass Lab network, passengers will be able to use the lab for COVID-19 testing prior to travel and securely upload test results in IATA Travel Pass. This information is then checked against the IATA Timatic global registry of national health and entry requirements, to produce an “OK to Travel” status.

IATA Travel Pass Lab Network is a key element of IATA Travel Pass, a mobile app that helps travelers to store and manage their verified certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccinations.

IATA says its Travel Pass is more secure and efficient than current paper processes used to manage health requirements and crucial for the scalable restart of aviation. Over 70 airlines are either trialling or committed to testing IATA Travel Pass. So far, trials’ span 151 routes across all continents of the world.