British Airways trials vaccine certification on India flights

British Airways’ passengers booked on flights to India are able to upload their negative Covid-19 test results and other travel declaration forms directly into their booking on the airline’s website ba.com, ahead of travel.

The pilot scheme, available on all flights from London to India, will certify that customers have the correct documentation needed for their flight before they arrive at the airport, allowing them to check-in online and avoid queuing in the terminal.

Three days before they are due to depart, customers will receive an email directing them to the ‘Manage My Booking’ function on ba.com where they can find the relevant entry requirements, including a negative Covid-19 test result and a digital declaration form.

The customer can then upload each document via ‘Manage My Booking’ which will be certified by the airline within six hours to ensure all entry requirements are met.

The airline aims to roll this trial out to more destinations in the coming weeks and is also working to add this functionality for those destinations to its British Airways app.

This will enable customers to securely upload the documentation for their booking directly from their mobile device, which could include a negative Covid test results or proof of a vaccination if required by the government of the destination.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are preparing for the meaningful return to international travel in the coming months. This means doing everything we can to simplify the journey for our customers, allow them to travel with confidence and create the best possible seamless, frictionless experience."

"We know that innovation and technology hold the key to unlocking international travel. We are already offering access to travel app ‘VeriFLY’ on selected routes and IAG has been helping develop ‘Travel Pass’ with IATA."

Digital health travel passport, VeriFLY, is currently available on the airline’s flights from the UK to the US and Canada, as well as all inbound flights to the UK.

The app is optional for customers and can be downloaded to a mobile device. The airline continues to work with VeriFLY to integrate it into its systems, further streamlining the customer journey.

The airline will continue to explore different health passport options in preparation for the restart of travel.

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