To restore traveller confidence and ensure a safe return to normal operations, Malaysia Airlines has announced plans to introduce a Digital Travel Health Pass. The new pass will incorporate modules of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass, helping travellers to track and control their journey while travelling internationally. The announcement represents a major step in returning tourism and aviation in Malaysia to normal.
Provided through the Malaysia Airlines mobile app, the Digital Travel Health Pass implements contactless technology throughout the travel process. Passengers will be able to create a digital passport; verify Covid-19 tests, vaccination requirements and status; and share their “OK to Travel” status with the relevant authorities, so they can stay updated with the latest developments and policies both at home and abroad.
The new technology will support travellers in making the necessary arrangements prior to travel and help them follow safety protocols during their journey. Using the app, passengers can make appointments with certified medical partners to carry out the required screening (in the form of a Covid-19 RT-PCR test) and store documentation such as Covid-19 vaccination certificates on their mobile phones.
“We are excited to make history together with IATA, and help reopen travel nationally and worldwide,” explains Izham Ismail, who is Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Aviation Group. “Part of our promise to ensure passengers can Fly Confidently, the Digital Travel Health Pass will open the way for us to take the brave next step into the world in a post-pandemic time, instilling confidence in our passengers and providing access to an easy-to-navigate way to prepare for their upcoming travels,” he added.
The pass is designed to offer returning travellers a one-stop solution for all requirements, concerns and safety measures relevant to their trip. By creating a contactless journey with travel documents stored securely on the platform, the pass will also contribute to the safety and security of a wider tourism revival. Representatives from IATA have expressed their satisfaction with the scheme, and are committed to supporting its implementation:
“Partnering with Malaysia Airlines to integrate the IATA Travel Pass into the airlines’ own app is an important milestone for the IATA Travel Pass,” says Nick Careen, who is IATA’s Senior Vice President of Airport, Passenger, Cargo, Security. “Built with data privacy, security and convenience in mind, the IATA travel app is a solution that both governments and passengers can trust, whether it is stand-alone or incorporated into an airline’s own travel app.”
More announcements are expected in the weeks ahead, as Malaysia Airlines rolls out its new technology and coordinates with the government to coincide its launch with the lifting of international travel restrictions. For more details about the current Covid-19 situation in Malaysia, and for all the latest news relating to the tourism sector, go to our industry news section.
