TOKYO:  Japan's largest airline namely ‘All Nippon Airways”, on Monday commenced testing a mobile app to certify the Covid-19 status of passengers, in a move towards the country's potential issuance of "vaccine passports" aimed at making international travel smoother and safer.

All Nippon Airways executive Tadashi Matsushita, said "As it is important to create an environment in which passengers can travel with peace of mind, the aviation industry has high hopes for the IATA app." The smartphone app, developed by a global industry body, works by displaying passengers' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results and vaccination status.

The trial of the International Air Transport Association Travel Pass (IATA Travel Pass) will be conducted on the carrier's international flights connecting Tokyo with Honolulu and New York through June 6.

"IATA Travel Pass enables passengers to easily verify whether they meet the Covid-19 testing requirements of their destination and share their test results with airlines and authorities in a secure way," All Nippon Airways President Yuji Hirako said. Passengers involved in the trial at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Monday said the process was smooth as they only had to show their phones and no other documents.

Common Pass allows passengers to prove their Covid status by having a QR code on their smartphones scanned prior to boarding a flight, and, ostensibly, in the near-future, making overseas travel digitalized and standardized for those who have been vaccinated against the virus.

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