Brisbane Airport is the first Australian airport involved in the trial. Picture: ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
A move towards contactless travel across the Tasman took a step closer when Qantas passengers on an inbound flight from New Zealand took part in a digital incoming passenger declaration trial.
And Brisbane is playing host airport for the rollout of the digital trial for Qantas passengers.
Passengers onboard QF126 from Auckland to Brisbane on Monday, October 21, were invited to complete the online Australia Travel Declaration (ATC) via the Qantas app instead of filling out a card.
Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram says it is exciting to be on the way to ditching the card.
“A significant amount of work has gone into getting this pilot off the ground …” he says.
“This is just one of a number of border modernisation initiatives being co-designed and co-financed by government and industry and the importance of this opportunity cannot be overstated.”
The move is one of several planned before the Brisbane Olympic Games, he says.
“As we prepare to welcome the world to Brisbane for the 2032 Olympics, we are striving to be the most innovative leaders at the border, and this is the first of many big steps in the right direction.”
The Department of Agriculture’s Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity, Justine Saunders says the trial is a move towards a more streamlined biosecurity process.
“We are pleased to see the biosecurity process becoming more integrated and streamlined while still effectively protecting Australia from harmful biosecurity pests and diseases,” she says.
“The success of this pilot program is a step in the right direction towards our shared end goal of achieving streamlined border clearances.”
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff says the trial “is an important step forward, moving Australia closer to the experience of the world’s leading travel hubs”.
The pilot will expand to flights from other New Zealand cities – including Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown – to Brisbane in coming weeks.
The trial is likely to expand to more Australian airports during the pilot stage while further international locations and other airlines will be considered, the ABF says.
HOW IT WORKS
Eligible Qantas passengers – adults, travelling solo and willing to use SmartGate – on flights to Brisbane from Auckland (initially the afternoon flight) will be able to complete the form through the app up to 72 hours before departure.
After they complete the declaration, those passengers received a digital pass with a QR code through the Qantas app to their email address, which was shown to border and biosecurity officers.
The Australia Travel Declaration is a digital alternative to the paper incoming passenger card and a brainchild of the Trans-Tasman Seamless Travel Group.
The group’s goal is to enable “contactless travel” in which passengers use digital credentials and facial recognition to fly into the countries.
