April 22 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the decision by the government of Panama to accept the IATA Travel Pass as a digital travel credential for passengers to store their COVID-19 test result, which is a current requirement for entry into the country. Panama thus becomes the first nation in the region to accept this new IATA application. 

 

“We are pleased that the government of Panama will allow passengers to use the IATA Travel Pass to manage their health credentials when traveling. Our cooperation with Panama in adopting electronic health certificates is a model for the region to follow, especially since the country provides significant air connectivity. Reliable and secure solutions for the verification of health credentials are essential to gain the trust of governments, restore consumer confidence and achieve a sustainable recovery for the industry,” said Peter Cerdá, IATA Regional Vice President for the Americas.

 

Luis Oliva, Administrator General of the Authority of Government Innovation of Panama (AIG), said: “The development of solutions that make travel easier is the result of a long history of fruitful collaboration with IATA. This latest joint initiative highlights our shared commitment to drive the adoption of digital health certificates that facilitate the resumption of international air travel.”

 

In parallel to the Panamanian government’s acceptance of the IATA Travel Pass, Copa Airlines will run a live trial of the tool in late May. Once concluded, the airline aims to make IATA Travel Pass available to its passengers as a one-stop shop for checking compliance with the travel rules and storing the applicable certificates, while providing governments with full assurance of passenger identity and the authenticity of the credentials being presented.

 

 

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