Register with IATA
Travel Pass Network
Expanding Covid testing labs for
travelers
The International Air Transport Association
(IATA) has launched a selfregistration
portal to make it easier for
COVID-19 testing labs to join the IATA
Travel Pass Lab Network.
IATA’s Lab Network provides a list
of eligible lab locations around the
globe so that travelers can easily find
a location for a COVID-19 test prior to
travel. The newly launched portal provides
a one-stop-shop for labs to selfregister
to be included in the Network.
Labs wishing to join the IATA Lab
Network should confirm that they meet
the eligibility *criteria* and register
through the new Self Registration Portal.
Before they are included in the IATA
Travel Pass, IATA will validate the information
and contact labs directly to
finalize their registration. The IATA Lab
Network is free for labs to join.
“COVID-19 testing will be critical to
a prolonged recovery to international
travel for the foreseeable future. One
aim of IATA Travel Pass is to make it
as easy as possible for travelers to find
eligible labs that meet the specific requirements
of their journeys. Already
IATA Travel Pass has an extensive network
of labs which is rapidly expanding
as more airlines use the IATA Travel
Pass. The IATA Lab Network Self Registration
Portal will make it easier for
more labs to join so that we are ready
to reliably meet the requirements of
governments as and more people return
to the skies,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s
Senior Vice President for Operations,
Safety and Security.
Join hwere:
https://www.iata.org/en/programs/
passenger/travel-pass/lab-network/
JAL celebrates Tanabata
Festival of the
Stars at T1
AIRPORT VOICE, JULY 2021 33
On July 7, Japan Airlines
celebrated Tanabata, also
known as the Star Festival , at
its check-in at Terminal One,
JFK Airport. Tanabata celebrates
the meeting of the deities
Orihime and Hikoboshi
(represented by the stars Vega
and Altair respectively). According
to legend, the Milky
Way separates these lovers,
and they are allowed to meet
only once a year on the seventh
day of the seventh lunar month
of the lunisolar calendar. The
date of Tanabata varies by region
of the country, but the first
festivities begin on 7 July of the
Gregorian calendar. It was celebrated
at T1 with many agents
wearing ornate traditional Yukata,
summer Kimonos, and interacting
with passengers with
the Bamboo Wish Tree. Bamboo
is thought to have become
a part of the Tanabata tradition
for its propensity to grow
straight and tall, with upward
stretching branches bearing
wishes to heaven on the wind.
Passengers on JAL flights were
given the opportunity to make
a wish on long strip of colored
paper on the tree located in
the check-in area. These votive
offering are hopes of having
a wish granted, or a prayer
answered, from a nature spirit,
saint or goddess, depending on
the local tradition. This particular
Wish Tree at T1 will eventually
be shipped to Japan where
it will join many others at one of
the many shrines.
Kotaro Kawabata and Maribel Garces of JAK with Wish Tree at Tanabata celebration
/
/
