Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has grown to be the only airline in the world that flies to all seven continents, operating from its hubs in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane. April 17 marks ninety years of Qantas offering services around the globe.
Ninety Years of International Flying
On 17 April 1935, Qantas carried two passengers on a DH86 aircraft, travelling from Brisbane to Singapore. The flight took three-and-a-half days with sixteen stops along the way, and marked Australia’s first international passenger flight.
Ninety years later, over two-hundred-and-seventy-three-million customers have flown around the world via Qantas. After nearly a century, Qantas’ international network has expanded massively, comprising of fifty-six routes to thirty-six destinations in twenty-five different countries. Last year alone, almost eight-million customers travelled this network, with nearly half-a-million of them flying between Australia and Singapore. This flight between Brisbane and Singapore takes only eight hours on average, in a Qantas Airbus A330.
To celebrate this significant anniversary, Qantas have released a collection of historical content from their official archives. This allows the public to view unseen photos and videos that present the fascinating developments of aviation over the years. In addition to this, Qantas has produced a historical timeline that details their accomplishments over the last ninety years of international flying and three limited edition amenity kits. These kits feature art from Qantas’ archives and will be available for Business customers. They are expected to roll out across the Qantas network in the coming months.
Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas said:
“We’re incredibly proud of our history, but equally excited about what’s ahead. This year will see more growth across the Qantas international network, with the launch of flights from Melbourne to Honolulu next month and Sydney to Sapporo later in the year.”
“We also look forward to the arrival of our new A350 aircraft, which will reshape what’s possible in ultra-long-haul travel with the introduction of our Project Sunrise non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York.”
About Qantas
Founded in 1920, Qantas is the flag carrier of Australia, and Australia and Oceania’s largest domestic and international airline. A founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance, Qantas offers service around the entire world, flying to over sixty domestic destinations in Australia alongside all seven continents. Over the years, Qantas has developed their reputation as a reliable airline in performance, punctuality and safety.
Not only is Qantas committed to smooth operational efficiency and excellent customer service, the airline gives back to Australian communities, contributing further to socioeconomic growth. This includes a dedicated effort to reducing carbon emissions, speaking up on important social issues (from gender diversity and LGBTQI+ inclusion to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reconciliation), and providing financial support to restore and regenerate iconic Australian natural wonders, including the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo Reef.
Have you flown with Qantas before? Let us know about your experience.
