Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) announced today it has successfully trialled an app with customers designed to track vaccinations and COVID test results. Qantas tested the app, called CommonPass, on passengers on its Frankfurt to Darwin repatriation flight.
Qantas' CommonPass app
In a media statement, Qantas declared the CommonPass App's trial was the first time it had used it for passengers. Last month, the airline trialled the smartphone app with some of its crew.
The app allows the airline to verify negative COVID test results before anyone can board a plane. It works by connecting customers to certified testing labs, which will then upload the results straight to the app. Customers will then be able to show staff proof of a negative test. This is a requirement for travel into many countries – including Australia.
Qantas is hoping to integrate vaccination information into the app in future. The airline says it will work with the federal government to look at ways to show COVID vaccine certificates on the software.
Group Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said a digital health pass would assist airlines and governments globally post-coronavirus.
"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," said Ms Tully.
"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. 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."
The app's developer's (The Commons Project Foundation) CEO, Paul Meyer, assured customers the process would be "secure, private, and a trusted experience…"
The national carrier is hoping to integrate CommonPass functions into its already existing Qantas app.
Other news affecting Qantas
The federal government revealed its $1.2 billion domestic tourism package to replace JobKeeper yesterday. The program, which will see airline tickets subsidised by 50% for travel to 13 domestic tourist locations, saw the Qantas share price lift, along with Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB), and Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO). All of these shares have retreated today as initial enthusiasm for the program has waned.
Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, defended the program amid accusations from Regional Express Holdings Ltd (ASX: REX) deputy chair, John Sharp, that it would primarily benefit the larger airline.
"You can't feel sorry for Rex because Rex has gotten all this money from the government previously," Mr Joyce said on the Today show.
"They got as a percentage of revenue seven times the aid that Qantas got last year, which is the equivalent of Qantas getting $7bn."
Qantas share price snapshot
Qantas shares closed the day flat at $5.30. Almost one year ago today, the Qantas share price hit a low of $2.03. Since then, the company's value has increased by 159.1%. Shares, however, have still not reached their pre-pandemic price of $6.67.
Qantas has a market capitalisation of $10 billion.
