The European Union faces a daunting task to introduce so-called corona passports by June so that people can travel again. That says Groupe ADP, operator of, among other things, the busiest airport in France, Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Franck Le Gall, Operations Director of ADP, calls the EU’s target “very, very ambitious”. He points out the slow progress and uncoordinated introduction of such health passports that are already under development at airlines and other companies.
This week, the European Commission presented plans for a free digital or paper certificate with a QR code. Travellers can get it if they have been vaccinated against corona, have recently tested negative or have produced enough antibodies against the virus, or so the idea is.
The proofs are intended to facilitate travel both within and outside the country block. A balance must be struck between countries that depend on tourism and are eager to reopen their borders and more cautious countries, such as France and Germany.
Brussels’ step comes just at a time when numerous similar systems are already in the works. Tests with corona passes are already underway at various airports, such as in Paris, London and Rome.
According to Le Gall, the cards must offer strict data protection and are easy to adapt to changing rules. Furthermore, scans must be performed in seconds with the same equipment used to check boarding passes. ADP is neutral towards the various initiatives, as long as a system can process them.