Qantas builds a cutting-edge digital and AI facility in Adelaide

Qantas is preparing to open a major technology and innovation hub in Adelaide early next year, marking a significant step in its long-term digital transformation strategy. The airline said the facility will become home to more than 420 highly skilled roles over the next three years, bringing critical digital and AI capability in-house. Product managers, digital experience designers, software engineers, and data and AI specialists will collaborate closely at the new hub. Their goal is to redesign how customers interact with Qantas at every stage of the travel journey. This includes improvements before, during, and after each flight. The centre is scheduled to begin operations in March 2026. Qantas notes that advanced technology now supports everything from bookings to inflight services and baggage handling.

Building Digital Tools

According to Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, the new hub will play a central role in lifting the customer experience by building digital tools that make travel faster, easier, and more personalised. The airline believes that bringing its technology teams together in one dedicated location will accelerate innovation. This unified approach will also enable faster testing and rollout of new solutions. Qantas has also entered into a partnership with the University of Adelaide to establish specialised graduate pathways into the centre, ensuring a steady pipeline of emerging digital talent. This collaboration aims to support both recruitment and long-term workforce development as the company scales its technology operations.

Aircraft Turnaround Times

Beyond its customer-facing initiatives, the Adelaide hub will drive significant modernisation within Qantas’ internal systems and operational processes. Teams will focus on data analytics, automation, AI-driven optimisation, and tools to enhance safety, improve aircraft turnaround times, and support smarter decision-making across the network. The project is expected to strengthen South Australia’s expanding tech ecosystem by creating high-value jobs. It will also encourage deeper collaboration between industry and academia. In addition, the initiative aims to further position Adelaide as a leading Australian centre for digital innovation.