- A four-week test programme under real conditions launched in March 2021, 15th, in addition to those currently underway on Air France flights from Paris to French overseas territories Pointe-à-Pitre et Fort-de-France ;
- Dedicated airport procedures for passengers using ICC AOKpass, made possible thanks to a partnership between Air France, Groupe ADP, San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles World Airports.
For a 4-week period, this pilot programme has been implemented for Air France flights on Paris-Charles de Gaulle-San Francisco and Paris Charles de Gaulle-Los Angeles routes. Passengers can test this free of charge mobile application, available on smartphones and providing a secure verifiable record of their COVID-19 test results performed in a partner laboratory.
Through running this pilot in live conditions, Air France and all transportation stakeholders involved are striving to improve the passenger experience by streamlining the screening test verification operations, which have become mandatory since the break-out of the COVID-19.
A partnership between Air France, MedAire/International SOS, Groupe ADP, FlySFO and Los Angeles World Airports enables passengers using the application to benefit from dedicated airport procedures, with priority access from boarding on departure to passport control on arrival at Paris.
This is running alongside a pilot which began on March 11th for Air France customers travelling from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport to Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort-de-France. This test, free of charge and on a voluntary basis only, follows the following four steps:
1. The customer downloads the ICC AOKpass application available on the Appstore, Google Play Store or Huawei App Store, and performs the test (PCR or LAMP (saliva sample), depending on the regulations of the destination concerned) in one of the partner laboratories;
2. Once the test is completed, the laboratory provides the customer with the test results in the form of a PDF document and of a QR code, to be securely downloaded into the ICC AOKpass application;
3. At the airport, on the day of departure, specific signage directs the customer to a dedicate lane during boarding. When travel documents are checked, the customer shows the QR code displayed on his smartphone as a proof of his Covid-19 negative status. The ICC AOKpass then confirms that the test presented is valid and complies with the regulations of the country of destination via a network secured by blockchain technology;
4. On arrival in Paris, the customer will see the same specific signage and benefits from priority access when going through passport control, during which he presents the QR code on the AOKpass app again.
The ICC AOKpass solution complies with all applicable RGPD standards. Passengers-customers participating in the test can access or delete their data at any time.
Alain Bernard, Chief Operating Officer Air France, declared: "Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we have been calling for a worldwide health-related standard for flight resumption. This new experimental programme is an example of what could become the standard for travel document verification tomorrow, and we are pleased to implement it with Air France partners. Collaboration between governments, airlines and airport authorities is essential to find solutions combining health security with a smooth travel experience.”
Sébastien Bedu, Airport Services Product manager MedAire, a subsidiary of International SOS added:"The launch of this second large-scale test programme between Paris and the airports of San Francisco and Los Angeles is a major step in the international recognition of ICC AOKpass as a trusted-third-party and the emergence of a new international standard, unique condition for the resumption of international travel. From the medical laboratory and at every step of the journey, ICC AOKpass makes it possible to certify the negative COVID-19 status of passengers, to the entire air transport stakeholders, for a safe return to travels.”
Marc Houalla, Groupe ADP Deputy Chief Officer and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport managing Director underlined: "We are convinced that the ICC AOKpass digital sanitary certificate that we are testing with our partners on departure and arrival at Paris Airports will make passengers' journey through our terminals easier, guaranteeing both greater fluidity and better security regarding health related controls.The sustainable resumption of traffic requires first of all restoring air connectivity between countries and this health pass has every chance of contributing to this goal by setting a new standard.”
