Qantas’ new lawsuit over insurance business

Qantas’ new lawsuit over insurance business

Qantas is being accused of stealing the name of its new insurance business from an employment firm.

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The airline may be forced to re-brand Qantas Assure, which it launched at the start of 2016, after rehabilitation and employment services company Ingeus lodged action in the Federal Court of NSW asking for a name change and compensation, reports Fairfax

Ingeus, founded by Thérèse Rein, wife of former PM Kevin Rudd, has used the name Assure to brand its market employee mental health and wellbeing support services since 2002.

The company claims Qantas used the Assure name to market similar services for employee training and wellbeing.

Qantas Assure sells health, life and income insurance, aiming to grow its loyalty arm into business areas, according to Fairfax.

“We are concerned that, by Qantas’ use of ‘Qantas Assure’ for health and wellbeing services, people will believe that we at Assure are in a partnership with Qantas when in fact we are not,” a spokesman for Ingeus told Fairfax. 

“We have spent a lot of time and resources to build a brand we can be proud of, and so naturally we wish to protect that brand.”

A spokeswoman for Qantas also told Fairfax the Register for Trade Marks has found in favour of Qantas and the airline will now defend the appeal in court.

The airline’s loyalty business made more for the company than its international operations, racking up $369 compared to $327 million. 

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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