Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Singapore Airlines will become the world’s first airline to fully deploy the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass mobile application for digital health verification, starting with passengers flying from Singapore to London from March 15 to 28. The pilot marks the second phase of SIA’s digital health verification process trials, based on the IATA Travel Pass framework.

 


The airline will invite passengers with mobile telephones running on the Apple iOS operating system to download the IATA Travel Pass app and create a digital ID consisting of their profile photo and passport information. They can also insert their flight information into the app.

 


Subsequently, they can book their pre-departure Covid-19 test at one of seven participating clinics in Singapore via a dedicated online portal. They then can register at the clinic using the digital ID and flight information in the app. Their test results, as well as confirmation of status to fly, will appear directly on the app.

 


Participants will need to show their confirmed status in the app to the check-in staff at Singapore Changi Airport before flight departure. In line with regulatory requirements, they will also need to bring a physical copy of their health certificate issued by the clinic where they took their Covid-19 tests.

 


If successful, the pilot will pave the way for the integration of the entire digital health verification process into the SingaporeAir mobile app starting around the middle of the year.

 


“The first phase of the trials helped to support SIA’s drive towards a secure and convenient industry standard for the verification of Covid-19 test results, and the health status of passengers including their vaccination status, in the future,” said Singapore Airlines acting v-p of marketing planning JoAnn Tan. “That gives us the confidence that in the second phase, we can further streamline the verification process for eventual integration into SIA’s mobile application.”

 


SIA tested the first phase of its digital health verification process, the first in the world based on IATA’s Travel Pass framework, in December 2020. Customers who took their Covid-19 tests at selected clinics in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur received either digital or paper health certificates with a QR code. Airport check-in staff and Singapore’s immigration authority verified the authenticity of the certificates via a secure mobile app and ensured that the customers met Singapore’s entry requirements.

 


The trial has since recorded more than 200 health certificate verifications by SIA check-in staff, with no fraudulent certificates detected.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Singapore Airlines To Pioneer IATA Travel Pass Deployment

SIA passengers flying from Singapore to London from March 15 to 28 can opt to use Travel Pass to verify health status.  

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Evia Aero plans to operate scheduled services in several parts of Europe 

German Airline Plans To Operate Hydrogen-electric Beech 1900s

Hanneke Weitering

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

South Florida operator expects first deliveries in 2027

UrbanLink Orders 20 More Viceroy Electric Seagliders from Regent Craft

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Carrier could buy up to 200 of the 250-seat Z4 airliner

United Commits to JetZero's Blended-wing-body Airliner

Kaleyesus Bekele

European aerospace group produces narrowbodies in both Canada and the U.S.

Airbus Boosts A220 Output with Mirabel Delivery Center 

Archer’s Launch Edition program marks its second customer

Ethiopian Airlines Plans To Operate Archer’s Midnight eVTOL Air Taxi

Operator plans scheduled services connecting coastal communities

Scottish Seaplane Operator Plans to Add Electric Noemi to Its Fleet

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Long-haul airline has switched allegiance from Vertical Aerospace to Joby Aviation 

Virgin Atlantic Teams with Joby for UK eVTOL Air Taxi Network

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

More In Airlines