App captures PCR test results for Paris-Taipei passengers

EVA Air is partnering with IATA (International Air Transport Association) to pilot test its digital health verification App on flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport, starting in September. The widely anticipated “IATA Travel Pass” will give EVA passengers on this European route a convenient, efficient way to digitally capture their health verification information and minimize person-to-person contact.

Countries around the globe are enacting strict travel requirements and dedicating immense resources to protecting their borders and safeguarding their populations against COVID-19 and its more dangerous variants. COVID-19 vaccinations and negative PCR test results are becoming required travel credentials. Digital health verification platforms are convenient tools that give border control officials direct access to passengers’ test results and help reduce human errors and unnecessary interactions. As we learn to live with COVID-19, tools such as “IATA Travel Pass” will become critical.

Starting in March 2021, EVA began testing these kinds of programs, working with Affinidi and, more recently, AOKpass. Now, it is piloting the “IATA Travel Pass” on another of its popular routes. EVA also plans to evaluate the Star Alliance Health Data Exchange Platform. EVA will continue to work closely with global authorities to co-develop post-pandemic travel standards. At the same time, it is complying with the various and evolving governmental vaccination and health verification policies for destinations it serves. EVA is embracing every opportunity to be part of the global force against COVID-19.

The IATA Travel Pass App has been created during the pandemic and more than 70 airlines have conducted pilot programs. EVA and IATA worked together for four months to construct support systems for the platform and chose Paris – Taipei for the test run. Ticket holders for flights on the route can download the App and create personal IDs. Their next step is to check details for testing at a designated hospital. After the PCR test is done, the medical facility will send it to each passenger’s mobile device. All the passenger has to do is present the App and the “OK to travel” health declaration form to EVA airport staff who can then quickly verify test results. Both Taiwan and the United States require passengers to be ready to also show paper copies of PCR test results to airport staff if additional verification is needed.

The “IATA Travel Pass” uses secured transmitting technology to ensure data privacy and enable passengers to comfortably manage health information now required for travel. As the pandemic has dragged on in its different forms, entry requirements for countries around the globe have repeatedly changed. The “IATA Travel Pass” is a vital tool, placing the most up-to-date travel information and entry regulations for countries worldwide at passengers’ fingertips.

EVA is piloting digital health verification platforms and automated systems simultaneously with ongoing efforts to enhance and optimize COVID-19 prevention measures and ground operations. EVA aims to provide the safest, most convenient flying experiences available as COVID-19 and its variants wind down and global travel resumes. In the meantime, it is upholding rigorous COVID-19 prevention standards, evaluating different digital health platforms and much more as it works to find the best ways to provide paperless, zero-contact travel experiences.

About EVA Air
EVA Air is a Star Alliance member and one of only 10 SKYTRAX-rated 5-Star airlines worldwide. Travelers responding to SKYTRAX’s global survey voted EVA number one for the “World’s Cleanest Aircraft Cabins” and “Best Economy Class Airline Catering.” TripAdvisor recognized it among the “Top 10 Airlines – World” and awarded it top spots in four more categories in its Travelers’ Choice Awards for Airlines while Travel + Leisure readers ranked it in the Top-10 International Airlines. It also earned a place in AirlineRatings.com’s “Best of the Best” World’s Best Airlines 2021 after similarly high ratings for safety and COVID compliance in January.

The carrier was established in 1989 as Taiwan’s first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected Evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader Evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 80 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to over 60 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America where gateways are Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. Travelers can learn more about EVA destinations and schedules or book and buy tickets at www.evaair.com.

EVA Air is continually working to further improve ground-service quality and convenience, especially now with all the challenges created by COVID-19. Starting Wednesday, 11 August, 2021, it began offering “Automated Check-in,” a new online service for passengers taking international flights operated by EVA and UNI Air that is available as soon as they make reservations and pay for their tickets, as many days in advance of their flights as they wish, wherever they are. The system automatically checks them in for every EVA and UNI flight on their trip itinerary. This new service is available at www.evaair.com or on the EVA Mobile APP.

Over the past few years, EVA has steadily transformed time-consuming face-to-face airport counter services into paperless digital functions that passengers can access at their convenience. In addition, paperless functions provide added benefits by reducing carbon emissions and environmental impacts. As long as COVID-19 disruptions persist, these services enhance passenger and airline ground staff safety by minimizing the amount of time they spend in direct contact at the airport.

EVA and UNI Air will send auto check-in completion notification links 48 hours before scheduled departures, enabling international passengers to complete the recently introduced health declaration forms required for flights and get electronic boarding passes. Passengers will simply need to enter personal information to complete the process. Passengers can also change seats if another they prefer is available. Those traveling with infants, in groups or requiring special services will still need to complete check-in procedures at the airport counter.

EVA is working with Affinidi and AOKpass to test their verification solution programs while it evaluates other leading developers in anticipation of implementing universally accepted electronic health passports. Long after COVID runs its course, EVA will continue to seek innovative technologies it can use to give passengers increasingly personalized services, safer travel experiences and easier procedures from booking flights to airport departure, baggage claim and arrival.

About EVA Air
EVA Air is a Star Alliance member and one of only 10 SKYTRAX-rated 5-Star airlines worldwide. Travelers responding to SKYTRAX’s global survey voted EVA number one for the “World’s Cleanest Aircraft Cabins” and “Best Economy Class Airline Catering.” TripAdvisor recognized it among the “Top 10 Airlines – World” and awarded it top spots in four more categories in its Travelers’ Choice Awards for Airlines while Travel + Leisure readers ranked it in the Top-10 International Airlines. It also earned a place in AirlineRatings.com’s “Best of the Best” World’s Best Airlines 2021 after similarly high ratings for safety and COVID compliance in January. The carrier was established in 1989 as Taiwan’s first privately owned international airline. It is part of the respected Evergreen Group and a sister company to global container-shipping leader Evergreen Line. It flies a fleet of more than 80 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to over 60 international destinations throughout Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America where gateways are Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver. Travelers can learn more about EVA destinations and schedules or book and buy tickets at www.evaair.com.