BA unveils app-based ‘vaccine passport’ plan

Monday 15 March 2021

British Airways has revealed plans to allow passengers to prove they have had both covid jabs via their app in time for the UK’s planned border reopening.

While the dates for Jersey's border reopening remain unclear, under the UK ‘roadmap’, international travel is planned to resume on 17 May.

At that point, BA says that passengers will be able to upload their vaccination details in the 'Manage my booking' section of their smartphone app to prove they are ‘safe to fly.'

The airline’s Chief Executive, Sean Doyle, said he believed the UK should build on its vaccine programme and take a global lead in developing systems enabling people to travel. 

"It's fair to say that Britain has developed a really strong leadership position in coming out the other end of the pandemic," he commented.

"What we want to make sure is that we also take that leadership position into restoring travel and restoring the economy."

Pictured: Individuals who have had both covid jabs will be able to log that on BA's app.

All new arrivals into Jersey are treated as coming from a ‘red’ jurisdiction, meaning they can only leave isolation once they have received a negative covid test after 10 days of quarantine.

There is currently no date set for the resumption of more travel in and out of the island. The Government’s scientific advisers will today be discussing how Jersey will safely be able to open its borders before presenting their recommendations to Ministers. It is expected that Ministers will then make an announcement later this week.

Responding to questions from Express last week, Deputy Medical Officer for Health Dr Ivan Muscat reiterated that vaccine passports are a likely inevitability in future travel, and that Jersey is closely following international developments as it deliberates over what liberties a vaccination passport-carrying person will be entitled to.

He admitted that one of the issues that STAC would have to grapple with was that younger people may be disadvantaged in booking holidays, as vaccination appointments are only currently available to islanders aged 50 and over, those deemed clinically ‘at risk’ and health and social workers. Plans to vaccinate the under-50s are yet to be announced.

This could pose an issue for a family of different ages wishing to go on holiday together, Dr Muscat explained, as younger members may not have been vaccinated.

On Friday, Guernsey’s Government unveiled its plans to reopen the island’s borders.

Pictured: Guernsey unveiled its key travel dates as part of its 'Bailiwick Blueprint' for resuming normal life on Friday.

From 22 March, there will be no restrictions on  inter-island travel within the ‘Bailiwick Bubble’ – Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm – from 22 March.

Five weeks later – from 30 April – non-essential travel from outside the Bailiwick will be allowed, although there will be additional measures depending on where the traveller comes from and how serious the prevalence of covid there.

The regions fall into four broad categories, based on increasing levels of prevalence. Travellers from a Category 4 region, for example, will be tested on arrival and on day 13 of a 14-day period of self-isolation. Anyone declining a test will need to self-isolate for 21 days.

If all goes well, Bailiwick borders will re-open fully on 1 July, with no country or regional variations.

However, this will still be subject to the first phase of Guernsey’s vaccine programme having been delivered and the first doses within the second.

A single test at the border, or administered pre-travel, may still be needed, depending on Public Health concerns.