Travel Wallets containing COVID-19 immunisation or testing status have been a thing that many have worked on – from IATA to VeriFly. Ryanair is to roll out its own version – with the Ryanair app.
Ryanair Boeing 737-800 departing Dublin Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
In the Irish airline’s app. Ryanair customers will be able to upload their negative PCR tests, vaccination certificates and other coronavirus-related documents that may be essential for travelling in the European Union this summer.
The airline is hoping that the EU’s vaccine distribution programme will eliminate current restrictions on travellers in time for school holidays(June to September). Ryanair customers can already make use of the Covid-19 Document Holder which will keep all the Covid certificates needed to travel in one place, making it easier to present at airports.
With vaccine passports more of discussion, rather than an actionable by governments at the moment, Ryanair is aware that some countries may require additional travel documents their new Covid-19 document holder ensures that passengers will have all their coronavirus-related certificates at hand, kept and secure to present at airports during their next getaway.
In Quotes
Dara Brady, Marketing Director of Ryanair, said:
“We are delighted to launch Ryanair’s Covid-19 Document Holder as we prepare for the return of family holidays this summer. Many of our customers will go on vacation for the first time in more than a year and will have to comply with the new travel guidelines. Thus, this Covid-19 Document Holder allows customers to store all their coronavirus-related documents (PCR test results, passenger location forms, or vaccine certificates) in one place without having to worry about paperwork.
Ryanair’s 2021 summer calendar is now on sale, subject to changes in travel restrictions adopted by governments. In addition, we expect that once Europe’s high-risk/elderly population is vaccinated by the end of May or June, travel restrictions will relax and air travel will experience a rebound in accumulated customer demand. This will cause European families to travel again for a well-deserved summer holiday on the beaches of Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece. We look forward to welcoming our customers and their families on board during the summer season.”
Another incompatible standard, but could get you moving
Let’s be honest – Ryanair isn’t doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Rather, they’re doing this to ensure you can put your documentation in their app, to allow you to fly.
Current competitors who have been trialling digital health passport apps include the IATA Travel Pass, the VeriFly app and AOK Pass, all running to slightly different standards.
The trick will be getting those applications to talk to public health systems to share the appropriate health data – and for apps to talk to each other to allow consented data to flow as needed.
And the answers for those won’t be easy or cheap.
However, Ryanair’s system seems simple enough. Let’s hope it’s secure enough to store confidential data without it going walkies.
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