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SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) customers can perform Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and COVID-19 serology tests prior to departure, and receive their results online, as part of a trial of the new service launched today.
According to Ms JoAnn Tan, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines, said that currently, the pre-departure test service is only available for passengers flying from Singapore, Jakarta and Medan as part of the trial phase. If the pilot is successful, the service will be extended to more cities on the SIA and SilkAir networks.
“In this trial SIA will work closely with Collinson, a global leader in the provision of travel experiences, including medical assistance and safety. With pre-departure testing becoming a mandatory requirement for more countries, this new service will enable SIA customers to make bookings on the online booking portal safely and seamlessly after making their flight reservations,” JoAnn Tan said.
She added that customers can make an appointment for a pre-departure test with a clinic of their choice from a list of recognized testing facilities available on the online portal. They will also receive their test results via the same portal, which they can then show during check-in at the airport.
“The results of this test will come with a QR code that will allow airport check-in staff and the Singapore immigration authority to verify through the new digital health verification process which was tried out by SIA and the International Air Transport Association. This portal can also accommodate digital health tickets documenting the passenger’s COVID-19 status,” she noted.
Ms JoAnn Tan explained that piloting this one-stop pre-departure test is part of our ongoing effort to provide essential services to passengers so far, as well as a smoother pre-flight experience. By accommodating all the necessary pre-departure information on one platform, our passengers can enjoy a much more efficient booking experience with Singapore Airlines.
Meanwhile Todd Handcock, President, Asia-Pacific, Collinson added that our partnership with Singapore Airlines will help enable the reopening of key safe routes for travelers and is a step forward in our goal of achieving a safe long-term return of global travel.
“COVID-19 has brought challenges to businesses and individuals around the world, and despite optimism that a vaccine rollout will help end the pandemic, there are still complex roads ahead. To restore confidence in the journey, implementing a safe and robust testing protocol remains the key,” he concluded. [traveltext.id]
