Australian airline company Qantas (ASX:QAN) today launched a trial of its all-new Next Generation Check-in system at its domestic terminal at Perth Airport.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said Next Generation Check-in would significantly cut check-in times and eliminate queues for customers.

"This is a truly ground-breaking Qantas innovation," Mr Joyce said.

"A group of approximately 100,000 Qantas Frequent Flyers who regularly travel through Perth have been invited to take part in the Next Generation Check-in trial.

"The majority of these customers will have received their new Qantas Frequent Flyer Card embedded with "intelligent Q" chip technology.

"With one touch of their Frequent Flyer Card on our new Q Card Readers, passengers will now be checked in within seconds. The new card will also act as a permanent boarding pass."

A priority security lane has also opened in Perth with improved preparation zones and new walkthrough equipment to support faster processing through the screening area.

Mr Joyce said all passengers travelling through Qantas' Perth domestic terminal would benefit from the airline's new self check-in kiosks and automatic bag drop facilities.

"Next Generation Check-in will provide a new level of service to our customers with Customer Service Agents coming out from behind their desks and circulating throughout the terminal to assist customers," Mr Joyce said.

"Perth is a very important market for Qantas and the recent $75 million upgrade of our domestic terminal made it the perfect choice to launch this trial phase of the project."

Throughout the Perth trial, construction and training will continue in Sydney, which will be ready to launch Next Generation Check-in later in 2010, followed by Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra in 2011. The program is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2011.