Cathay Pacific adopts digital passes for international travel

It will validate travellers’ compliance to health-related entry requirements.

Cathay Pacific has introduced a digital health platform that will validate travellers’ compliance to health-related entry requirements set by different governments, according to an announcement.

The technology has just completed its latest trial run, refining the departure process on its flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles on 15 March.

Pilots and cabin crew volunteered for the trial, using the CommonPass app and pre-departure rapid PCR test to create a digital travel pass. The adoption of the passes is aimed to make travellers’ pre-departure journey more seamless, whilst allowing for a more scaled-up airport operations as travel gradually resumes.

“We believe that digital travel passes will play an important role in helping facilitate the safe, progressive return of international travel. We have therefore been collaborating with our industry partners to pursue the adoption of universally recognised digital travel passes as we prepare to welcome more passengers onboard our flights,” Cathay Pacific general manager Vivian Lo said.

According to Cathay Pacific, the verification process could also be used to support border control processes in the future to enable safe border reopening.