Qantas is set to make a “multi-million dollar investment in new technology” over the next three years that will particularly go into enhancing its digital channels.
The airline did not specify the exact amount it would spend, but characterised the work as “a major upgrade to digital platforms” in its main half-year results announcement [pdf].
“Qantas and Jetstar customers will see a major revamp across digital channels with an ongoing rollout of improvements designed to make it easier for customers to manage their travel on the ground, including during disruptions,” Qantas said in a separate statement.
The airline promised a “major evolution” of the Qantas app “to deliver more functions”.
“New features will be rolling out each month, including enhanced baggage tracking, flight tracking and improved status updates during disruptions, and updates on customer enquiries,” it said.
In addition, “a complete overhaul of qantas.com” will take place from mid-2024, with the intention to make it “significantly faster and easier to use.”
Qantas said that subsidiary Jetstar is also benefitting from “recently launched online check-in for international flights … and a new app, providing a better service with live notifications of gate or flight updates.”
Qantas’ spending on technology and digital was up substantially in the six months to December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022: growing from $258 million to $316 million in that time, a 22 percent increase, according to financial filings [pdf].
More free wi-fi
Qantas also said it would introduce free wi-fi to its international network faster, “with the service due to be progressively switched on from the end of calendar year 2024.”
“The expansion of wi-fi to the airline’s international fleet was deferred until global satellite technology was able to deliver a similar quality connection that Qantas customers have when travelling domestically,” Qantas said.
The international wi-fi services are powered by Viasat.
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