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. 

Qantas stands down 2,500 staff as Covid halts domestic flights

The news comes as the country's most populous city, Sydney, continues to be hit hard by rising infections

Qantas and Jetstar to boost fleet to meet demand

The group is seeing increased domestic demand for flights across its network with the airline predicting that passenger capacity will climb to 90% of pre-Covid levels during the April-June quarter

Qantas deploys Dreamliners on domestic flights

While international borders remain closed, the operator is increasing capacity on its internal routes

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Flying the fifth: Inside Qantas' five-engine 747 ops

For the great majority of endeavours, aviation is the domain of symmetry and streamlining, while weight and drag are the constant enemies of efficient flight. The process of carrying a fifth engine on the Boeing 747 puts these norms to the test while turning heads and creating conversation, as Owen Zupp explains

Qantas launches ‘mystery flights’ to combat ‘border blues’

As the country’s vaccine rollout continues at pace, the airline is offering a trio of exclusive travel experiences in the meantime

Qantas changes its international flights restart plan

The Australian flag carrier has pushed back the restart to better align with the country’s vaccine programme

Menzies wins Qantas and Jetstar contracts

Operations at the Perth and Brisbane hubs has already begun, with Cairns and Darwin to follow shortly

Qantas and BP partner to pursue net zero ambitions

Both companies are dedicated to reaching the net zero emissions goal by 2050

Qantas 100 Feature Premium

Qantas marks its 100th anniversary

The airline celebrates its centenary amid the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Key.Aero has collated 100 images to celebrate this important milestone

World’s first A321P2F enters service with Qantas

After nearly two years of work, the jet was delivered to the flag carrier for use on behalf of Australia Post