Qantas soars into the crypto world with NFT release
Buyers of these one-of-a-kind digital artworks will also be able to earn Qantas Points.
By Chris Ashton, March 21 2022
Qantas is entering the non-fungible token (NFT) space, revealing plans to release its own series of branded digital art collectibles in the middle of this year.
From today, frequent flyers with a bent for crypto can register their interest in what the airline describes as “a new way to own a piece of Qantas history”.
As a tease of what digital art might be offered, the Qantas NFT website sports a graphic showing a split image of its iconic Boeing 747 in two familiar liveries.
Using blockchain technology, which is a digital ledger used to show the provenance of an asset, each artwork will be one-of-a-kind, allowing people to buy, own, collect and sell the tokens.
NFTs represent a growing and valuable slice of the crypto-trading market, with one token in the popular Bored Ape series recently selling for the equivalent of US$2.8 million.
Qantas is not the first airline to enter the booming NFT market: airBaltic jumped onto the hype-wagon in 2021 with a series of artworks featuring its Airbus A220 aircraft soaring above various Latvian cities.
However, in what is said to be a world first, Qantas states the initial buyer of each NFT will also earn Qantas Points on the purchase, with more benefits for the NFT holders yet to be revealed.
While sure to win some fans, the announcement has also taken many by surprise, particularly in relation to the environmental impact of owning and creating NFTs, as well as the rise of copycat artworks.
The timing is interesting too, given Qantas earlier this month launched its Qantas Green status tier as a way to reward customers for making earth-conscious decisions.
It seems the airline anticipated this though, with its website stating: “Qantas NFTs will be released with net zero emissions, using low-carbon platforms and carbon offsetting.”
Further details of the Qantas NFTs will be unveiled soon.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1207
Excellent, now AJ and his executive team have solved this problem, which I'm sure was near the top of the list at the last frequent flyer focus group, can they move onto things such as sorting out the mess that is the international/domestic terminal transfer in Sydney and having enough ground staff so luggage doesn't take 25 minutes after landing to arrive in baggage collection?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Sep 2015
Total posts 33
Reeves35, I know exactly what you are referring to. I also believe that staff who work for Qantas at Sydney airport have pleaded beyond belief for management to try and do something to improve this process along with other matters affecting customer service. I will leave it to you to think if they have had any luck or not.
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 63
Or just having calls answered and resolved in a reasonable time.
17 Jun 2020
Total posts 235
Hopefully crypto can fund some call centre staff
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Oct 2014
Total posts 691
Even better, perhaps the QF Board could entice AJ to take some of his remuneration in this obviously "highly valuable" venture? It would demonstrate certainty in this important product (NFT's) and help reduce some of the corporate financial outflows? [Sarcasm /off]
Seriously, I would think that a company which is being challenged to keep it's head financially above water along with restoring its previous network and fleet .. would have better and more relevant issues to focus on, rather than fart-assing around with crypto-currencies and NFT's.
At least it is nice to know that as QF seems to be resuming previous employment levels, that they've found room in their corporate structure to embed a formal Department of Silly Walks.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 1031
What is so hard for people to understand?
NFTs are NOT artwork. NFTs are NOTHING. When buying an NFT, you are buying NOTHING.
The "digital product" that people assume they are buying is the pointer to the nothingness that they are really buying. Buyers of NFTs are NOT buying the art. The art is the address, not the product.
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