Qantas has been operating flights for over 100 years. The Australia-based carrier is recognized as one of the world’s leading airlines, connecting passengers worldwide from its hubs in several Australian cities.
Ready for takeoff? Let’s depart into the world of this Australia-based airline. In no particular, here are 20 essential facts about Qantas, covering topics such as its history and current operations.
Qantas Facts
1. When was Qantas founded?
The airline was created in November 1920 by Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, and Fergus McMaster as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services.
According to Qantas, McGinness and Fysh outlined their plan to McMaster, ultimately wanting the company to serve for joy rides and air taxi trips. McMaster was quickly convinced and immediately sought out investment. Meanwhile, McGinness and Fysh went on the hunt for aircraft.
Official company documents were signed in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, with the airline registered in Winton, Queensland, Australia.
2. It began operations two years after its inception
A couple of years after the paperwork was finalized and Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services officially began operations, the airline launched its inaugural flight.
According to the Australian National Trust, the airline’s first commercial service was a flight between Charleville and Cloncurry, which also carried airmail. Notably, the first passenger on that service was Alexander Kennedy, an 84-year-old outback pioneer.
3. A new entity was created in the 1930s
In 1934, Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services joined forces with Imperial Airways, a forerunner of British Airways, to establish Qantas Empire Airways Limited.
This joint venture aimed to enhance air travel and connectivity between Australia and the United Kingdom.
4. Qantas’ current headquarters is located in New South Wales
The carrier’s headquarters is situated at 10 Bourke Road, Mascot, NSW 2020, Australia.
This office in Mascot, a suburb of Sydney, is adjacent to Sydney Airport and operates Monday to Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM.
5. The airline is the flag carrier of Australia
There are several airlines based in Australia, but it is Qantas that has the distinction of being the nation’s flag carrier.
It became the flag carrier of Australia in 1935 when it began providing international air services from the country.
6. Qantas is a part of a major airline alliance
Qantas has been a part of the oneworld alliance since February 1999.
The airline was one of the original founding members of a longstanding alliance, which included American Airlines, British Airways, the now-defunct Canadian Airlines, and Cathay Pacific.
7. The carrier operates out of several airports in Australia
The airline currently has four main hubs across Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
Qantas provides a range of services from Brisbane, featuring domestic flights to destinations like Cairns and international routes to places such as Tokyo and Los Angeles. Similarly, the airline emphasizes both domestic and international services from Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, with Sydney offering the largest number of destinations.
8. How many aircraft are in Qantas’ fleet?
According to Airfleets, Qantas currently has 125 active aircraft in its fleet.
The airline’s fleet includes the Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A380, Boeing 737-800, and Boeing 787-9.
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9. The airline serves over 100 destinations
As it stands, Qantas serves destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. The carrier also provides sightseeing tours of Antarctica.
Some of the airline’s key routes are Los Angeles-Sydney, Los Angeles-Melbourne, Melbourne-Perth, Sydney-Singapore, and Sydney-Melbourne.
10. Qantas has a frequent flyer program
Qantas Frequent Flyer is the loyalty program offered by Qantas.
Initially launched in the 1980s, the scheme currently allows members to earn Qantas Points, use Qantas Points, and earn status and benefits. The program has five levels of status: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum One. The airline also offers memberships such as Points Club, Points Club+, and The Qantas Club.
11. The airline has numerous codeshare agreements
In addition to its partners within the oneworld alliance, Qantas maintains codeshare agreements with several other airlines. These agreements allow carriers to sell tickets for flights operated by other airlines under their own flight numbers.
Among Qantas’s codeshare partners are airlines like Air Tahiti Nui and LATAM Airlines.
12. Qantas has entered into joint ventures
Back in 2012, it was announced that Qantas and Emirates had entered into a joint venture. A joint venture refers to a business arrangement in which two or more airlines collaborate to operate flights on specific routes, sharing revenues, costs, and resources associated with those routes.
The agreement between Qantas and Emirates has since been extended. The airline has also established joint ventures with American Airlines and China Southern Airlines.
13. The carrier has numerous subsidiaries
As it stands, Qantas currently has three subsidiary airlines: QantasLink, Jetstar, and Qantas Freight.
QantasLink is a regional airline, Jetstar is a low-cost airline, and Qantas Freight is a cargo airline.
14. Vanessa Hudson became the first female CEO of Qantas
In May 2023, it was revealed that Vanessa Hudson would become the first female CEO of Qantas, replacing Alan Joyce. Hudson had been working for the airline since 1994.
Four months later, Joyce resigned ahead of schedule amid numerous scandals. Immediately afterwards, Hudson was installed as CEO. She was due to take up the position in November 2023.
15. Qantas has won numerous awards
The airline has received many awards throughout the years and is currently rated as a 4-star airline by Skytrax, the global aviation rating organization.
Qantas has previously received a range of prestigious awards, including being recognized as Best Airline in Australia and Best First Class in Australia/Pacific.
16. The airline has earned a reputation as one of the world’s safest airlines
In 2023, Qantas was rated as the World’s Safest Airline by Airline Ratings. The carrier also achieved this rating in 2014.
The airline has maintained an outstanding safety record over the years, with its last major incident resulting in fatalities occurring in December 1951.
17. Qantas operates some of the longest flights in the world
Some of the world’s longest flights are operated by Qantas. For example, the airline’s Perth to London flight, QF9, takes 17 hours and 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, the carrier’s Dallas to Melbourne flight, QF22, takes 17 hours and 35 minutes, while its Perth to Paris service, QF33, takes 17 hours and 20 minutes.
18. The carrier became the first airline to introduce a dedicated business class cabin
In 1979, Qantas became the first airline in the world to introduce a dedicated business class cabin.
The airline claims it “changed long-haul flying” by “inventing” the luxury cabin.
19. The airline has various sponsorships
Qantas has various sponsorships in place across different sectors, including sports and events.
For example, the airline currently has a sponsorship in place with Football Australia, with Qantas being the official airline of the men’s and women’s national teams.
20. Qantas offers numerous cabin classes
The airline offers four classes of travel: Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class, and First.
Notably, the available cabins may vary depending on the route and aircraft.
This article was updated on October 9, 2024.
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