Qantas Health Pass: Will we need one when the bubble resumes?

Qantas has confirmed it will introduce a digital health pass that would show passengers are Covid-free and fit to fly when regular international travel returns.

The Qantas Group said on Thursday the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass would be used on Qantas and Jetstar international flights and final development work was underway to launch the product once regular international flights resumed.

The app would allow passengers to show proof of their Covid-19 vaccination status and test results to border officials, health officials and airline staff.

It would also match a passenger’s health information against a specific flight and checks the entry requirements of the country they are travelling to, and provides clearance for them to travel.

And it is seemingly an unavoidable aspect of future international travel, with many destinations Australians frequently travel to – including the UK, US and Canada – requiring proof of vaccine or negative Covid results as a condition of quarantine-free entry, however, entry requirements vary.

It is also being used for domestic activities. France has mandated health passports for visitors to major domestic attractions, such as the Eiffel Tower, and will soon make it mandatory for people to visit bars and restaurants.

There is no firm date on when Qantas’ international flights will resume but the company said the Travel Pass would be ready to launch when that time came.

“We want to get our international flights back in the air and our people back to work and a digital health pass will be a key part of that,” Qantas Group chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said.

“Many governments are already requiring proof of vaccine or a negative Covid test result for international travel. Even if it wasn’t a government requirement, Qantas has always been a leader in safety and we have a responsibility to our customers and crew.

“A digital health pass will connect customers with Covid testing facilities, health authorities and airlines, and ultimately enable the opening of more travel bubbles and borders.