Qantas to be first to trial new digital travel declaration on Auckland to Brisbane flights

Qantas passengers arriving from New Zealand will be the first to experience a simplified, paperless arrival process in Australia, thanks to a new initiative by the airline and the Australian Government.

Qantas is the first airline to pilot the Australian Digital Travel Declaration (ATD), a digital replacement for the traditional paper inbound card initially available to travelers flying from Auckland to Brisbane.

Australian Tourism Declaration Trial.

Flight QF126 will be the first to use ATD and there are plans to expand the program to more flights from New Zealand to Brisbane in the coming days. The initiative is part of Qantas’ wider efforts to make international travel easier. More Australian cities are expected to use the new technology early next year.

Qantas chief customer and digital officer Catriona Larritt said the paperless system was designed to make travel more convenient for passengers.

“We always strive to make the journey easier and more comfortable for our customers,” she said.

“A paperless declaration means you no longer have to look for a pen and your flight information mid-flight.

Eligible Qantas customers can complete an ATD up to 72 hours before departure via the Qantas app, receiving a QR code for border clearance upon arrival in Australia.

While the pilot program is currently limited to adult passengers on single bookings, it is expected to include bookings with children and groups by mid-2025. The traditional paper return will remain available for those who prefer it.

This pilot follows other digital enhancements to the Qantas app, including incoming flight tracking, baggage tracking, passport scanning and a direct calling feature.

Qantas plans to expand the ATD program to more international routes in the coming months.