American Airlines is launching the first health passport for international travelers headed to the US
- American Airlines will launch a mobile "health passport" for international travelers headed to the US.
- Passengers can use the Verifly app to upload negative COVID-19 test results and other necessary paperwork.
- The app will be available to American Airlines customers on January 23.
American Airlines is rolling out a mobile "health passport" for international travelers arriving in the US starting January 23, the airline said on Thursday.
The airline's announcement comes after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's decision on Tuesday to require negative COVID-19 tests or proof of COVID-19 recovery from all travelers entering the US starting January 26.
In order to meet the CDC's new demands, American will be using Verifly's mobile app platform to create a health passport. The app will then allow travelers to confirm travel requirements and upload negative COVID-19 test results and other paperwork needed to fly into the US.
The airline is the first in the country to introduce this type of health passport system, according to American, and could in theory be used for similar proof of vaccination if required in the future.
"We support the implementation of a global program to require COVID-19 testing for travelers to the US, and we want to do everything we can to make travel a seamless experience for customers," Julie Rath, the vice president of customer experience at American Airlines, said in a statement.
The mobile health passport will be available for American Airline fliers starting January 23. US travelers flying into Jamaica, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have already had access to the app.
The introduction of such a passport isn't the only strategy American Airlines has taken to ease traveling during the coronavirus pandemic. Last month the airline announced it would begin offering $129 at-home PCR tests to potentially help travelers avoid quarantining.