Govt Opens Talks With Airlines On Oz Digital Vax Pass
The Morrison Government says it is continuing talks with airlines for a digital global coronavirus vaccination passport, similar to one proposed by the International Air Transport Association.
The Government is consulting with IATA, a trade association made up of 290 of the world’s airlines, to use their vaccine passport system to unlock quarantine-free travel.
The IATA Travel Pass involves a global registry of health of vaccination centres linked to a lab app, to securely share passenger vaccination certificates with airlines.
A contactless travel app would enable passengers to create a digital passport and manage their travel documentation online.
So-called digital green-pass vaccination certificates are already in use in several regions including the EU, the UK and Israel.
IATA’s A/Pac director, Vinoop Goel, told The New Daily that talks with the Australian Government are ongoing.
“We are working with a number of airlines on trials of the IATA Travel Pass, including over 30 airlines that have announced publicly. Qantas and Air New Zealand are participating in the pilots,” Goel said.
“Singapore, Panama and Estonia have announced that they will accept the IATA Travel Pass for entry.”
The discussions come as pressure grows on Canberra to open up international air, as more Australians become fully vaccinated.
The Prime Minister, however, says that initially it would only be used to enable domestic travel, but the NSW and Qld governments have voiced opposition to the move.