October 28 2021  |  Airline & Terminal News

Video Clip: Qantas prepares for international flights

By Rick Lundstrom

Healthy fare planned for Qantas inflight meals and lounges

Qantas has a range of new experiences to join the return of much-loved favorites as the airline prepares to resume scheduled international flights next week for the first time in 20 months.

New initiatives including a customized digital travel guide designed to help passengers navigate travel requirements before they leave home.

“The safe reopening of Australia’s borders and our first international flights will be a very special day for the entire Qantas team which is excited to get back flying and help reconnect our customers with family and friends around the world,” said Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully in today’s announcement.

Qantas has developed technology across its website and app and will roll out a revamped digital booking and pre-departure experience that will be tailored to each passenger trip.

The new digital experience will guide passengers through what they need to complete their international travel based on government requirements at their time of travel. This will include:

  • Pre-booking: Destination specific travel requirements available on the airline’s website.
  • Booking: Travel requirements emailed to customers upon booking and link to upcoming interactive Travel Ready section on qantas.com.
  • Pre-departure: Emails/SMSs to customers seven days, four days and one day ahead of departure with customized checklists, reminders and links to relevant information.

Over the coming weeks, the digital experience will include integration with the IATA Travel Pass enabling passengers to upload their vaccine and testing documents and be cleared to fly before they get to the airport. Airport check-in for international flights will also open an hour earlier than pre-COVID to allow extra time.

Champagne will again flow on Qantas international flights starting in November

From November onwards, Qantas will roll out a new menu for its international flights and in the lounges including a number of new plant-based options.

In response to the growing popularity, plant-based meals such as potato and celeriac gratin with roast fennel, peas, mushrooms and onion sauce and ratatouille pasta bake with herb crumb, cauliflower and green beans will be available in all cabins on international flights from mid-November. Australian ice-creams will also be added to the inflight menu including Paddle Pops and Splices.

The new offering will also include a signature cocktail – the Qantas Sky Spritz – developed by SOFI to celebrate the return to international skies featuring Australian botanicals including Davidson plum and finger lime.


The airline is restocking fridges ahead of the reopening of the Sydney International First Lounge on Monday. In it will be 125 containers of strawberries and 25 kilograms of passionfruit a day for the signature Neil Perry pavlovas.

Qantas has announced it will use Darwin International Airport’s Catalina Lounge as a pop-up International Transit lounge for eligible passengers transiting through Darwin on their way to and from London. Other international lounges will reopen to align with the return of further international routes.

Wellness kits will continue to be available onboard and other changes to inflight services include using fully compostable paper wrappings on amenity kits, sustainably sourced bamboo combined swizzles and stirrers and new compostable cups rolled out on all international flights.

It is an Australian Government requirement that face masks be worn in airports and onboard flights.

Qantas encourages all travelers to consider taking out travel insurance before an international flight and in a post COVID world, one that incorporates some COVID cover. There are a number of products available to travelers, they can choose a policy that will best suit their needs.

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