THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus.
The IATA Travel Pass aims to reconnect the world safely
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is set to release the IATA Travel Pass in 1Q2021, a mobile app that the association said would “help reconnect our world safely”.
According to IATA, the app will help travellers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for Covid-19 testing or vaccine information. It is developed for both Android and the iPhone
“Testing is the immediate solution to safely re-open borders and re-connect people. And eventually this is likely to transition to vaccination requirements. In either case, a secure system to manage Covid-19 testing or vaccination information is critical,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
“The IATA Travel Pass is a solution that both travellers and governments can trust. And it is being built with data security, convenience and verification as top priorities,” he added.
To emphasis these priorities the association has unveiled the three “critical design elements” incorporated in the development of the solution:
1. Putting travellers in control of their personal information for data security and privacy: The IATA Travel Pass stores encrypted data, including verified test or vaccination results, on the traveller’s mobile device, who controls what information to share with airlines and authorities. No central database or data repository is storing the information, thus ensuring the highest standards for data privacy.
2. Global standards recognised by governments to ensure verified identity and test/vaccine information:
- Verified identity: A government-issued ePassport is used to verify the identity of the user. It also serves to create a digital representation of the user’s passport to allow the information to be sent electronically in a secured way that is linked to his/her verified identity.
- Verified test results or vaccine information: Currently the main vaccination requirement for entry into some countries is for yellow fever. Under the International Health Regulations this is managed by the “yellow card” or International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis. The World Health Organisation is developing digital standards that will make these vastly more secure and will dramatically reduce fraud. When ready, the IATA Travel Pass will be able to accommodate such new global standards.
IATA said that until a Covid vaccine is widely available to the general public the priority is on testing. As laboratories have well-established safety standards for managing and verifying test results the association is partnering with selected ones to securely link their test results with the verified identity of the IATA Travel Pass holder.
3. Convenience and biosafety enhanced with integration into contactless travel processes: The ICAO CART recommendations for biosafety include the use of contactless travel processes to reduce the risk of virus transmission when documents need to be exchanged in the travel process.
The industry has been developing contactless travel processes as part of a One ID transformation programme for several years. The IATA Travel Pass digital identity management module uses the principles of One ID that are, in turn, based on ICAO standards. For the passenger this means that the IATA Travel Pass will also unlock the potential for convenient contactless travel processes from check-in to boarding.
IATA disclosed the Travel Pass is being developed in four independent modules that can interact with each other. “These modules will cover registries for regulatory entry requirements and labs/test centres, verified certificate issuance, digital identity and the possibility for passengers to share their tests results along their journey via their mobile device. Open standards enable the modules to be used as one solution or to complement capabilities being developed by other solutions providers.”
BIGLIFE rebrands with a new name and new look
BIGLIFE, a subsidiary of airasia digital, has undergone a remake with a new brand name and new logo – BIG Rewards.
In announcing the rebranding the company , which operates the BIG Loyalty programme, said it was in line with the growth of its diverse offerings and fast e-commerce transactions.
BIG Rewards, which started as an airline loyalty programme for airasia in 2010, has grown into a lifestyle rewards platform that goes beyond flights. With a wide range of partners across lifestyle, travel and financial services categories it now boasts of being “one of the biggest points platforms that allows borderless earn and burn activities across Asean and beyond.”
“The rebranding exercise represents change. BIG Rewards is changing because the world around is changing,” explained Spencer Lee, chief executive officer of BIGLIFE Sdn Bhd.
He added that the word ‘Rewards’ spells out the benefits for its more than 20 million members.
“Under the new brand name BIG Points will continue to power the airasia.com ecosystem as a digital loyalty currency, rewarding BIG members with BIG Points and greater savings, as points can be used like cash for payment across all lines of business – travel, shop, food, fresh and more on airasia.com.“
Last September BIG Rewards celebrated its 10th birthday with the launch of BIG Deals that enables members to redeem lifestyle products using BIG Points; and BIG Xchange, an instant points exchange hub that allows members to convert their desired points instantly on one single platform.
Emirates unveils premium economy cabin in its new A380 aircraft
In preparation for the reopening of borders and resumption of international travel Emirates has unveiled a new premium economy product plus enhancements across all cabins on its newest Airbus A380 aircraft.
The premium economy has been described as the first for a Middle East airline.
Emirates received the A380 aircraft in mid-December 2020. It will take delivery of its remaining five A380s, also with premium economy cabins, over 2021 and 2022. The premium economy seats will also be installed on some of its Boeing 777X aircraft due to join the fleet in 2023.
“The Emirates A380 is already one of the most sought-after travel experiences in the skies, and now we’ve made it even better,” said Tim Clark, president of Emirates. “While others cut back, Emirates is working hard to restore the products and services that we’ve had to suspend or adjust due to pandemic precautions, and introduce new offerings and enhancements.”
Emirates’ premium economy cabin, located at the front of the main deck, offers 56 seats in a 2-4-2 cabin layout. Each seat has a pitch of up to 101cm, is 49cm inches wide and reclines 20cm. Covered in cream-coloured anti-stain leather, similar to business class it has a 33cm screen, in-seat charging points as well as dining and side cocktail tables.
Commenting on the premium economy cabin Clark said the product was developed “in keeping with Emirates’ brand positioning as a full-service airline of the highest quality.”
As Emirates currently has only one A380 with premium economy, it is not for sale yet.
“Until we have a viable number of seats in our inventory to bring to market, we plan to offer the Emirates premium economy experience as a complimentary upgrade to valued customers,” Clark stated.
Enhancements are also made to the other classes on the A380 plane. The 14 first class private suites were upgraded with wider and taller doors for more privacy and comfort, while the 76 business class seats have been refreshed with leather covers and wood finishing. All 338 economy seats have been replaced with ergonomically designed ones with leather headrests and flexible side panels.
Watch video of Emirates’ premium economy cabin.
• Featured image credit: Panuwat Dangsungnoen/Getty Images
