After the outbreak of the pandemic, many German citizens put their vacation plans on hold. Because vaccinations continue to advance and the number of infections is increasingly falling in Europe, travel should be possible again at least this summer. The first airlines are increasing their offerings, cruises are again docking at the port and hotels are looking forward to their first guests from abroad.
The desire to travel seems to be back.
So that EU citizens can travel within the European Union again, the Commission and Member States have developed a digital EU passport. It is known as the “Digital Green Certificate” and is intended to be an additional travel certificate. EU citizens must show this together with their ticket and identification documents when starting their journey. The EU passport shows whether travelers meet the criteria to be able to cross national borders at all. You must either be fully vaccinated, recovered or tested within the EU.
The corresponding proof is first stored digitally by the traveler, the EU passport then shows a QR code and a few personal data. Including, for example, the ID number and the name of the traveler. The airline can use the QR code to determine whether the traveler has been vaccinated, recovered or tested – and thus enable them to travel.
IATA warns of travel chaos at the beginning of the vacation
The IATA has calculated how important the digital solution is. The International Transport Association, to which the world’s largest airlines belong, warns of massive problems – and even predicts travel chaos.
Currently, employees at the airport have to manually check ID documents, vaccination certificates and test certificates several times. After all, airlines and airports are also responsible for checking the data. Those affected often have to show the documents at the check-in counter and also at the security checkpoint.
According to the IATA, anyone who wants to travel today during the corona pandemic must plan at least 1.5 hours in advance. During this time, vacationers would, for example, carry out check-in, security and border controls, baggage drop-off and a possible customs declaration. And that although the utilization is just 30 percent. In some cases, the waiting time is even three hours per passenger and trip.
Lots of vacationers and lots of evidence are causing delays
Because more vacationers can be expected in the next few weeks and months, IATA insists on a quick digital solution to simplify the processes. If the automatic verification and roll-out of the digital EU passport is a long time coming, airlines and airports would have to check the documents by hand. That would increase the waiting times. According to the model calculation, the IATA then puts the waiting time at 5.5 hours – when the airport is occupied at 75 percent. This is the case under normal conditions before the travel rush in August.
If airlines were to only check documents in paper form and the load was even at 100 percent, passengers would have to wait eight hours before they can get from the entrance at the airport to the gate. Travelers would then sometimes spend longer at the airport on flights within Europe than on the plane itself. “Nobody tolerates waiting times at the check-in counter or at the border control. We have to automate the processes before there is a traffic jam,” says IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
When is the digital EU passport valid in Germany?
In some EU countries, the digital EU passport is valid from June 1st. With the introduction, the quarantine requirement for entry and exit will be completely eliminated.
However, travelers still have to store their vaccination, test and recovery certificates in the regional Corona apps. In some countries, the documents can be photographed with the mobile phone at the start and uploaded to the respective digital immigration forms. The problem is, however, that according to the current state of affairs, airports have to check these documents for correctness before departure. In some cases, travelers also have to identify themselves again on arrival, because the vaccination certificates are also checked on a random basis.
“Without an automated control of vaccination and test certificates, the workload at airports remains high. That leads to chaos on departure and on arrival,” warns Walsh.
What do i need to travel?
There may actually be longer waiting times for the transition phase. Especially because some countries have not yet developed a digital solution or have not yet tested it. In addition, airports have the hardware, but not yet the necessary software. This also causes delays.
In Germany, the digital certificate is to be integrated into the Corona warning app. Travelers should also be able to print out their exit certificate if they do not want to use a smartphone. At the start and until a short transition phase, travelers must have their paper proof with them – and show them on arrival.
The IATA, in turn, has developed its own system to give airlines the opportunity to train staff and test the processes. Over 20 airlines have apparently already tested the IATA passport or are already testing it at many airports. According to initial information, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa are among the major providers. But also low-cost airlines like Vueling are about to test the IATA pass.
Do I have to expect longer waiting times in summer?
All airlines would like a quick check-in, stresses Walsh. However, waiting times cannot be completely ruled out. When the journey started two years ago, there were always long waiting times at many German airports – especially at the start of the season. That could happen again this year.
The IATA boss warns, however, that many countries are working far too slowly towards the summer holidays that will soon apply. The IATA boss insists in particular on a globally uniform system. With regard to the development of infections and the many easings, he welcomes the digital EU passport, but believes that a global standard concept is necessary.
As things stand so far, EU citizens can simply travel within Europe with their “Digital Green Certificate”, but if they want to travel to Turkey, Canada, Russia or the USA, different concepts are required. In many cases, a negative PCR test and an obligation to quarantine are then necessary.
In fact, the G20 countries have already agreed on an international solution. At least the frame is in place. In addition to a digital health certificate, the “Guideline for the Future on Tourism” is to be adopted in Rome in October and digital proof of identity will then also apply. The G7 summit on June 11th may outline what this could look like in practice.