“The SYNLAB and IATA signed an agreement to enable airline passengers to access SYNLAB’s broad and secure Covid-19 testing services, benefiting from its international capabilities.”
Europe’s medical diagnostic services provider SYNLAB and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) entered into a partnership deal to facilitate safe and easy travel in the coming days.
The SYNLAB and IATA signed an agreement on Wednesday (August 11, 2021) to enable airline passengers to access SYNLAB’s broad and secure Covid-19 testing services, benefiting from its international capabilities, a joint press release of both the partners said.
“SYNLAB and IATA build upon valuable experience gained during a successful pilot project for passenger testing in Columbia over the course of the past months,” the release said.
“The IATA Travel Pass applies the highest data security standards. Authorised laboratories directly send Covid-19 test results to the passenger’s phone as a verifiable credential. This way, the IATA Travel Pass is a digital solution that also prevents potential forgery of test results, the release states.”
According to the release, “IATA Travel Pass allows passengers to locate authorised laboratories at departure locations to get tested for SARS-CoV-2 as required by border and health authorities. After testing, SYNLAB will provide passengers with their certified test results directly through the IATA Travel Pass. The app checks the result against the IATA Travel Pass registry of national entry requirements to produce an “OK to Travel” status. Through the app passengers can share their status and the digital test certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.”
The IATA Travel Pass applies the highest data security standards. Authorised laboratories directly send Covid-19 test results to the passenger’s phone as a verifiable credential. This way, the IATA Travel Pass is a digital solution that also prevents potential forgery of test results, the release states.
“We are pleased to partner with IATA to make travelling as safe as possible. At a time when people around the world are resuming air travel and different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are spreading, testing remains crucial. Testing is a central pillar in monitoring and controlling the pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus. As the market leader in Europe for PCR testing, we have conducted 18 million PCR tests since the outbreak of the pandemic, underlining our strong expertise in this incredibly relevant field,” said Mathieu Floreani, CEO of SYNLAB.
Commenting on the partnership, IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, said, “Verified Covid-19 testing is critical to restore the freedom to travel for people who are not vaccinated. IATA Travel Pass aims to make it as simple as possible for travellers to locate certified labs and securely receive the test results that governments require for entry. Adding SYNLAB’s extensive lab network will help travellers more easily ensure that they meet their COVID-19 travel requirements.”
SYNLAB has a network of more than 450 medical laboratories and over 1,600 sample collection points across 36 countries. It claims to have a dedicated system to offer medical excellence with reliable testing services and the shortest possible turnaround times.