British Airways to trial mobile health passport on some flights

LONDON (Reuters) – British Airways said it would trial a mobile health app on flights between London and the United States, as airlines line up technology to help overcome barriers to travel thrown up by COVID-19 pandemic.

BA, owned by IAG, said on Friday it would trial the use of a mobile travel health passport, VeriFLY, following American Airlines, which is already using it.

VeriFLY combines travel verification documents and COVID-19 test results on a phone app to ensure passengers are compliant with destination entry requirements. Certified customers can then be fast-tracked through the airport.

Flying is currently at minimal levels, with flight volumes in Britain down more than 80% due to lockdowns and restrictions which ban most people from travelling.

British Airways’ chief executive Sean Doyle said the trial was about getting ready to navigate different entry requirements once travel does restart.

“Through these trials, we hope to provide travellers and governments on both sides of the Atlantic with the tools and the reassurance they need to make safe travel possible,” he said in a statement.

 

(Reporting by Sarah Young, Editing by Paul Sandle)