The International Air Transport Association said it will be trialling “in the next couple of weeks” its app designed to store evidence of a negative Covid-19 test – as well as proof of vaccination in the future – with Singapore Airlines on a route between Singapore and London.
Nick Careen, the industry trade body’s senior vice president for airport passenger cargo and security, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that “quite a few” governments have shown an interest in the app.
Asked whether UK passengers would be able to use paper records as proof of vaccination or would need to upload digital evidence, Mr Careen said: “The chances are it will be a combination of the two.
“Speaking specifically for the UK, there have been discussions and there have been some announcements in terms of digitising, and there is a digital record through the NHS of your vaccination regardless of how it is being logged, so the ability to be able to communicate that would not be overly burdensome.
“But, ultimately, yes, we would expect to have to have the ability to be able to upload existing documents but also those that are digital as well.”
In terms of data protection, Mr Careen said the information on the app would not be kept on a central database and that the test and vaccine records would only “exist on your phone”.
