Qantas has unveiled plans for a 400-strong Digital & AI Innovation Centre in Adelaide’s CBD, slated to open in March 2026. Backed by the South Australian government and the Australian Institute for Machine Learning, the hub will house software engineers, data scientists and UX designers charged with revamping the passenger journey – from predictive maintenance that prevents delays to real-time re-routing of bags.
Chief executive Vanessa Hudson said the flag carrier already deploys AI for flight-path optimisation and contract compliance, but the new centre will accelerate customer-facing tools, including biometric check-in, automated compensation offers during disruptions and personalised re-accommodation options.
![Qantas to open 400-person AI Innovation Centre in Adelaide, promising smarter baggage tracking and disruption management]()
For corporate travellers, the promise of faster bag recovery and proactive disruption alerts could translate into fewer missed connections and lower auxiliary costs. Qantas is also experimenting with AI-generated upgrade bids that adjust dynamically based on cabin-load forecasts – a feature likely to roll out network-wide once the Adelaide team is operational.
The initiative dovetails with Qantas’ wider post-COVID rebuild: the airline is preparing for ultra-long-haul “Project Sunrise” flights to New York and London from 2027, and recently announced new nonstop routes from Perth to Rome and Paris. State premier Peter Malinauskas called the centre “a game-changer” for Adelaide’s tech ecosystem, estimating a AUD 120 million annual boost once indirect jobs are counted.
Companies with large domestic travel programs should monitor pilot trials of the new AI baggage-tracking app, expected in late 2026, and consider integrating Qantas’ forthcoming disruption-management APIs into their travel-risk platforms.
Chief executive Vanessa Hudson said the flag carrier already deploys AI for flight-path optimisation and contract compliance, but the new centre will accelerate customer-facing tools, including biometric check-in, automated compensation offers during disruptions and personalised re-accommodation options.
For corporate travellers, the promise of faster bag recovery and proactive disruption alerts could translate into fewer missed connections and lower auxiliary costs. Qantas is also experimenting with AI-generated upgrade bids that adjust dynamically based on cabin-load forecasts – a feature likely to roll out network-wide once the Adelaide team is operational.
The initiative dovetails with Qantas’ wider post-COVID rebuild: the airline is preparing for ultra-long-haul “Project Sunrise” flights to New York and London from 2027, and recently announced new nonstop routes from Perth to Rome and Paris. State premier Peter Malinauskas called the centre “a game-changer” for Adelaide’s tech ecosystem, estimating a AUD 120 million annual boost once indirect jobs are counted.
Companies with large domestic travel programs should monitor pilot trials of the new AI baggage-tracking app, expected in late 2026, and consider integrating Qantas’ forthcoming disruption-management APIs into their travel-risk platforms.
