Qantas
As the world’s third oldest airline, coming in behind Dutch flag carrier KLM at the top and Colombian airline Avianca in second, Qantas’ claim to fame is that it is the oldest continuously operating airline in the world.
Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness, together with local grazier Fergus McMaster, founded what would later become the national carrier. This was just 17 years after the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers, two years after the end of World War One and at the tail end of the last major global pandemic, the Spanish Flu.
The new airline focused on conquering the country’s unique geography which was a major barrier to the growth of modern Australia. Its chances of success were deemed so slim that early backers of the project called their investments “a donation”.
Initially carrying post between outback towns, the airline was flying passengers to Singapore by the 1930s. By the end of the next decade, its strategic importance saw it nationalised and in the 1960s it was an early adopter of the jet aircraft that brought about the rise of global travel. Qantas invented business class in the 1970s, switched to an all-747 fleet in the 1980s, was privatised in the 1990s, founded Jetstar in 2004, went through major restructuring in 2014 and, by 2020, had recently completed several important ‘firsts’ in non-stop travel to Europe and the US.
BA 787 and Qantas A330 in near-miss during Sydney departure
A British Airways Boeing 787 and Qantas Airbus A330 suffered a loss of separation while departing Sydney/Kingsford Smith Airport last year, a report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has found.
Mixed blessings: Asia Pacific airlines in a post-COVID world
Global aviation may be fighting its way back out of the COVID doldrums, but it’s not plain sailing in Asia Pacific
Qantas Boeing 737 declares MAYDAY with engine problem
A Qantas Boeing 737 flying between Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney on January 18, 2023 experienced an engine issue in-flight which is being investigated.
Some of the most stunning special liveries to grace the jumbo
Although the Boeing 747 is best remembered in the iconic, but largely corporate liveries of Lufthansa, Pan Am, or British Airways, the Queen of the Skies has also enjoyed some quirkier paint schemes. Here we highlight some of our favourites from around the world...
Qantas 747 captain: My special memories flying the jumbo
Owen Zupp has flown Airbus narrowbodies as well as the Boeing 737 and 787, but it is the 747 that will always hold a special place in his heart. Here, he recounts some of his outstanding memories of the iconic jumbo.
Why Melbourne Airport is feeling optimistic...
Chris Frame travels to Melbourne to learn how the Victoria gateway is rising to the challenges of a resurgent travel market.
Insight: The popularity of premium economy class
In this month’s number-crunching insight, James Mellon, senior aviation data research analyst at Cirium, ponders the continued rise of premium economy class.
QUIZ: The World's longest flights!
We're literally in it for the long-haul this week as we put your knowledge of the world's longest routes to the test. From Australia and New Zealand to the USA and Middle East - we're criss-crossing the globe with this selection of sky-high questions.
Sydney-based training centre cleared for take-off
A new purpose-built facility will enable the Qantas Group to train up to 4,500 crew annually on current and future aircraft types.
Qantas Freight to boost A321P2F fleet
Qantas Freight is set to boost its narrowbody fleet of aircraft to meet growing e-commerce demand. Read here on Key.Aero to find out more...