Saudi Arabia’s GACA to accept IATA Travel Pass

Travellers will have the choice of using either the IATA Travel Pass or Tawakkalna, the country’s national health app

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia has decided to accept IATA Travel Pass to confirm pre-departure Covid-19 test results for departing and arriving passengers starting from 30 September 2021.

Saudi Arabian Airlines has been a trial partner in the development of the IATA Travel Pass, and work is progressing with GACA and Tawakkalna, the country’s national health app, for the IATA Travel Pass to be a vehicle for pre-arrival clearance for KSA.

Commenting on the announcement, IATA director general Willie Walsh said: “Our collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, GACA, Tawakkalna and Saudi Arabian Airlines demonstrates a shared commitment to restore international air travel safely. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of the IATA Travel Pass will demonstrate how digital solutions can effectively manage both the Covid-19 vaccine and test certificates. The trust that the KSA has placed in IATA Travel Pass is an example for other governments to follow.”

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GACA president Abdulaziz A Al Duailej added: “GACA is committed to supporting all stakeholders to ease and facilitate air travel in an efficient and effective way by adopting best international practices while taking full consideration of ICAO’s CART guidance by our wider country’s authorities in the decision-making processes on national recovery planning.

“GACA appreciates the efforts of all stakeholders in the integration with IATA Travel Pass including Timatic, health travel requirements, and Saudi’s digital platform ‘Health Pass’ by Tawakkalna, which will help to create a common vision for the future of air travel and technologies.”

IATA Travel Pass is a digital wallet solution that helps travellers understand travel requirements and present their verified travel health credentials (vaccine or test certificates) to meet Covid-19 entry restrictions.

For more information, visit www.iata.org