Passengers jetting to India can now upload their Covid details on to a phone app before travelling from the UK.
Travellers flying with British Airways who are eligible to travel to India under current coronavirus restrictions can now upload negative test results and other travel declaration forms via the airline’s website before travel as part of a trial, which could soon be expanded to other destinations.
The airline will be able to certify that passengers have correct documentation before they arrive at the departure airport, allowing them to check-in online and avoid queuing in the terminal.
Under a bilateral agreement between the UK and Indian governments, some airlines have announced their intention to run a limited number of flights between India and the UK. However, Air India flights between Birmingham Airport and Delhi are currently suspended.
Sean Doyle, chief executive of BA, said: “At British Airways we are preparing for the meaningful return to international travel in the coming months.
“This means doing everything we can to simplify the journey for our customers, allow them to travel with confidence and create the best possible seamless, frictionless experience in a new Covid era.
“We know that innovation and technology hold the key to unlocking international travel. We are already offering access to travel app ‘VeriFLY’ on selected routes and have been helping develop ‘Travel Pass’ with IATA.
“Now it’s also time to look at what we can offer through our own website. The key benefit of customers being able to upload the correct travel documentation into their booking, is that it enables them to check-in online, speeding up the airport process.
“We are continually exploring the best possible options to help our customers return to the skies, safely.”
The airline has already established a digital health travel ‘passport’ service VeriFLY, which is currently available on the airline’s flights to the US and Canada, as well as all inbound flights to the UK.
