Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways was founded on 16 November 1920 in Winton, Queensland, by WWI veterans Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness, with the backing of grazier Fergus McMaster, making it the oldest continuously operating airline in the English-speaking world. The name is an acronym of its original title, Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. The airline began with outback mail runs and joyrides, driven by a founding mission to overcome Australia’s tyranny of distance.

In 1934, Qantas partnered with Britain’s Imperial Airways to form Qantas Empire Airways, launching what would become the legendary Kangaroo Route connecting Australia to England. The Australian government nationalised the airline in 1947, and regular through service to London began the same year. Privatisation followed in 1995 when shares listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. In 2004, Qantas airlines launched Jetstar as a low-cost subsidiary, cementing a dual-brand strategy that has underpinned profitability for two decades.

In 2011, Qantas suffered a damaging industrial dispute that led CEO Alan Joyce to ground the entire fleet without notice, stranding tens of thousands of passengers globally and triggering a Fair Work Australia intervention. The episode cost an estimated $194 million and left lasting reputational damage.

Qantas entered the jet age in 1959 with its first Boeing 707 deliveries and has maintained an unblemished safety record in the jet era (never losing a jet airliner or a passenger in a fatal jet accident), a distinction referenced in popular culture and confirmed by industry safety ratings.

In August 2023, the ACCC took legal action against Qantas over its “ghost flights” scandal, alleging the airline sold tickets on flights it had already cancelled. In August 2025, Qantas was ordered to pay a total penalty of A$100 million, plus A$20 million in customer compensation. They were forced to pay A$90 million in relation to the unlawful outsourcing of ground handling staff during the COVID-19 pandemic (A$50 million of which was directed to the Transport Workers Union).

Qantas Airways operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, spanning short-haul narrowbodies through to large-capacity widebodies for long-haul international routes. As of mid-2026, the mainline fleet sits at approximately 146 aircraft, with a major renewal programme underway, the largest in Qantas history.

Unlike many legacy carriers, Qantas Air operates a genuinely global network from a geographically remote base. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) functions as the primary international gateway, supported by major hubs in Melbourne (MEL), Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER). The airline serves approximately 65 domestic destinations across Australia (including all state capitals, major regional centres and resources industry airports), plus 39 international destinations across 28 countries spanning Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific.

Qantas is the only airline in the world certified to fly to all seven continents. Its trans-Pacific flying, including the long-running Perth–London Heathrow service launched in 2018, has pushed the boundaries of ultra-long-haul travel and sets the stage for Project Sunrise nonstop services to London and New York from 2027.

Qantas Airways holds one of the most celebrated safety records in commercial aviation. The airline has never suffered a fatal accident or hull loss involving a jet airliner, a distinction maintained across more than six decades of jet operations. Airline Ratings rated Qantas the world’s safest airline in both 2014 and 2023.

Pre-jet era fatal accidents did occur: the last took place in 1951. Since then, a small number of serious non-fatal incidents have occurred, including:

No fatal jet accidents in more than 65 years of jet operations; one of the longest such records of any major airline globally.

Qantas Airways has delivered a strong financial recovery following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under CEO Vanessa Hudson, who took the top role in 2023, the Qantas Group reported its best on-time performance since 2019 in FY2025 and carried four million more customers than the prior year.

Qantas Airways has historically been Australia’s most reliable full-service carrier, though pandemic-era disruptions and a staff shortfall in 2022 badly damaged its on-time and customer satisfaction scores. The airline has since invested heavily in operational recovery and fleet renewal.

Qantas Airways has been pursuing Project Sunrise, the world’s longest commercial flights, since 2019, connecting Sydney nonstop to London and New York. The project represents the centrepiece of the airline’s long-term strategy under CEO Vanessa Hudson.

Qantas Airways operates a multi-cabin product across its international fleet, with one of the most competitive business class offerings in the Asia-Pacific. The incoming A350 fleet will introduce an entirely new generation of premium seating.

Current cabin structure (existing fleet):

A350 cabin (from 2027):

Qantas’ change and cancellation policy varies by fare type. Unlike some carriers, checked baggage is included as standard on all Qantas Economy class flights, domestic and international.

Checked baggage is included on all Qantas-operated Economy flights as standard, a meaningful distinction from some low-cost and hybrid carriers. Allowances vary by route type.

Qantas Airways does not permit pets in the passenger cabin on any of its flights, except for trained service dogs. All other animals travel via Qantas Freight as cargo.

Qantas Airways operates a conventional assigned-seating model across its network. Check-in options include online, via the Qantas App, at airport kiosks, and at staffed counters.

Qantas Frequent Flyer is Australia’s largest loyalty programme, with over 18 million members. The programme uses a dual currency system: Qantas Points for earning and spending on flights, hotels and retail; and Status Credits to determine tier progression. Points do not expire as long as there is qualifying activity within 18 months.

Qantas Airways sits in a complex position: Australia’s national airline and an iconic brand globally, celebrated for its safety record and long-haul premium product, but repeatedly challenged by service delivery, pricing, and the legal consequences of decisions made during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow Dj’s Aviation for the latest Qantas Airlines updates, including fleet deliveries, route launches and cancellations, Qantas air financial results, policy changes and Project Sunrise developments.