Hanoi (VNA) - National flag carrier Vietnam Airlineswill work with domestic and foreign agencies in building and applying a “COVID-19vaccine passport” project, Dang Anh Tuan, head of the airline’s Communications and Branding Department, has said.

Representatives from the airline have held a working sessionwith partners from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on a digital health passport project.

Vietnam Airlines was invited by the association to pilot the IATA Travel Pass app, which can helptravellers and governments manage travel health credentials.

The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app that allowstravellers to store and manage certifications for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. Theapp has been available in iOS and Android stores.

The information providedthrough the IATA Travel Pass can be used by governments requiring testing or vaccinationproof as a condition of international travel during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.A critical aspect is the fact that the information supplied is verified. It is asecure means to manage health requirements and much more efficient than paper processes.

The IATA Travel Pass will help people travelwith ease while meeting any government’s requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines.

It enables passengers to create a “digital passport”, receive test and vaccinationcertificates and verify that they are sufficient for their itinerary, and sharetesting or vaccination certificates with airlines and authorities to facilitatetravel. The app can also be used by travellers to manage travel documentation digitallyand seamlessly throughout their journey, improving the travel experience.

According to IATA’s Director Generaland CEO Alexandre de Juniac, the successful implementation of the IATA Travel Passdemonstrates that technology can securely, conveniently, and efficiently help travellersand governments manage travel health credentials.

This is an important basisfor international aviation activities to restart, he emphasised.

The IATA Travel Pass has received positive feedback from governments in more than70 countries and is being piloted by more than 20 airlines worldwide, includingfive-star airlines such as Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

The app is forecast to become a global trend, helping countries be more confidentin easing travel restrictions and thus rebounding their aviation industries as soonas possible.

Apart from piloting the “COVID-19 vaccine passport”, Vietnam Airlines continuesto ensure that international flights are carried out in line with the COVID-19 preventionand control standards at the fourth level - the highest level in its disease safetysystem.

The carrier is accelerating the completion of procedures to register with the Ministryof Health and relevant agencies to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for all its staffand their relatives.

This demonstrates its efforts to ensure safety on flights./.