Unilabs, a European diagnostic services provider, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have signed an agreement to incorporate Unilabs’ worldwide Covid-19 testing network into IATA Travel Pass. The agreement will make Unilabs one of the first major lab groups to be integrated into IATA’s Travel Pass app.
“Covid-19 testing will play a role in restarting international travel. Travelers will need to understand test requirements, locate labs, verify their identity to the lab and transfer their test results to relevant parties – airlines and governments – as needed. Our partnership with Unilabs will give travelers access to Unilabs’ extensive network and help them securely and efficiently manage their test results,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
IATA Travel Pass provides information on entry requirements, directs travelers to trusted labs, and allows passengers to receive and manage digital certificates for Covid-19 tests or vaccinations. Unilabs will be able to securely upload test results in IATA Travel Pass, which will then be checked against the IATA Timatic global registry of national health requirements to produce an ‘OK to travel’ status. Through the app, passengers can share their status and digital test certificates with authorities, airports and airlines.
Unilabs and IATA are currently running a pilot program in the UAE. Once the processes are successfully up and running, the initiative will be rolled out to other entities in the Unilabs network in many countries.