Australians eyeing destinations abroad may have reason to celebrate sooner than they think with the possibility of international travel resuming in October still on the table.
Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the recommencement of international travel would depend on a number of factors, including the country’s progress on the vaccine rollout.
Once the Australian adult population has been vaccinated against COVID-19, the government would be able to consider flights abroad. “That’s our hope and that’s our expectation,” Mr Morrison said on Thursday.
By Friday, Qantas successfully trialled its repatriation flight from Frankfurt to Sydney, and technology promises to unlock the door to the resumption of international travel even though it is still “too soon” to confirm an actual commencement date.
Qantas trialled technology which may be implemented in the near future.
Qantas Group chief customer officer Stephanie Tully said a digital health pass would assist airlines and governments to ensure safe travel once the borders open.
“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,” Ms Tully said.
“COVID test results and proof of vaccine will be required in many countries for quarantine-free travel, just as it has been for polio and yellow fever vaccinations in the past.”
She said the app was not compulsory for customers during the trial but longer term they hoped to integrate the technology with the existing Qantas app for ease of use.
“Ultimately we’re focused on ensuring that the process will be as seamless as possible for our customers to share this information so they can travel internationally again,” Ms Tully said.
Qantas was also assessing the International Air Transport Association travel pass as well as other “secure and seamless solutions” ahead of the resumption of regular travel from 31 October.
Qantas boss Alan Joyce said in the past that proof of vaccination would be mandatory in order to fly on the airline, and he expects that this would become a requirement of overseas transport.