Taiwan airline EVA Air announced today (March 29) that it will be collaborating with Singapore-based technology company Affinidi to utilise its digital credential verification solution to verify passengers’ Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results.
The service will be used for EVA’s Singapore to Taipei flights, and the airline has plans to extend this service to flights from Malaysia and Indonesia to Taipei.
It is also evaluating the introduction of digital systems on other routes based on trial outcomes.
According to a press release, EVA has been working with airline and aviation organisations to establish a reliable digital verification solution. It aims to promote a cross-border standardisation that will enable international systems to connect more seamlessly.
EVA upholds rigorous standards for safeguarding the health and safety of everyone traveling onboard our airline. We are pleased to be partnering Affinidi and Singapore Changi Airport on this digital verification platform trial which will offer greater peace of mind for our passengers, while ensuring the privacy of their health credentials.
David Chen, Executive Vice President of EVA Air
Affinidi is a business that builds core technology solutions which enable the creation and sharing of verifiable digital identities. Its solution provides assurance on the verification process, and is able to read and authenticate health credentials of varying standards and formats from over 14 global providers.
The company’s open, privacy-preserving and interoperable technology solution will enable airline ground staff to quickly and accurately determine the authenticity of PCR test results. This includes the name of the medical institution where the test was taken, date of the test and whether the passenger meets relevant policy requirements in their destination country.
By using Affinidi’s digital verification solution, EVA expects to eliminate human errors stemming from individual interpretation of test results.
Affinidi is committed to working with the aviation industry in building an ecosystem solution to address the increasingly complex environment for international travel as countries look to reopen their borders. We look forward to partnering EVA Air on this trial and to bringing greater convenience and confidence to travelers as we work towards our shared goal of making international travel safer for everyone.
Glenn Core, CEO of Affinidi
The Temasek-founded startup is working with government agencies and private sector partners on trials for inbound travellers. It has built a web application called the Universal Verifier, which acts like a single terminal of sorts that can read everything.
In January, Singapore Airlines (SIA) started a trial with Affinidi as well. Under the trial, travellers on SIA flights from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur will be given either a digital certificate or paper health certificates with a QR code if they take their COVID-19 tests at selected clinics.
Singapore’s immigration authority will then scan the QR code to verify the authenticity of the certificates, and ensure that passengers meet the requirements to enter the country.
SIA may extend the digital health verification process to other cities in its network if the trials are successful. It also plans to integrate the process into its SingaporeAir mobile app from mid-2021.
Currently, Singapore requires travelers to present QR codes for PCR test results from medical institutions, while Taiwan requires passengers to present a paper copy of their PCR test result when they check in for the flight.
Featured Image Credit: Affinidi / Eva Air
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