50 Facts About Qantas

The Origins of Qantas

Qantas, a name synonymous with aviation excellence, has a history that stretches back over a century. Let's dive into some fascinating facts about this iconic airline.

1. Founding Date: Qantas was founded on November 16, 1920, in Winton, Queensland by Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, and Fergus McMaster as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited (QANTAS).

2. First Aircraft: The airline's first aircraft was an Avro 504K, marking the beginning of its journey in aviation history.

3. Headquarters: Qantas moved its headquarters to Longreach, Queensland in 1921 and then to Brisbane, Queensland in 1930 before finally settling in Sydney in 1938.

The QEA Era and International Expansion

Qantas' partnership with Imperial Airways and its early international flights set the stage for its global presence.

4. QEA Era: In 1934, QANTAS and Britain's Imperial Airways formed Qantas Empire Airways Limited (QEA), which began operations in December 1934, flying between Brisbane and Darwin.

5. International Flights: QEA started international flights in May 1935, extending services from Darwin to Singapore, with Imperial Airways operating the rest of the service through to London.

World War II and Post-War Developments

The war years were challenging, but Qantas emerged stronger, expanding its services and fleet.

6. World War II Impact: During World War II, enemy action and accidents destroyed half of QEA's fleet of ten aircraft. Most of the fleet was taken over by the Australian government for war service.

7. Flying Boat Services: In 1943, flying boat services resumed with flights between Perth's Swan River and Koggala Lake in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), linking up with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) services to London.

8. Kangaroo Logo: Qantas' iconic kangaroo logo was first used on the "Kangaroo Route" in 1944, which connected Sydney to Karachi, with BOAC crews taking over for the rest of the journey to the UK.

Nationalization and New Routes

Post-war, Qantas saw significant changes, including nationalization and the introduction of new international routes.

9. Nationalization: In 1947, QEA was nationalized by the Australian government led by Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley. QANTAS Limited was wound up, and its remaining domestic network in Queensland was transferred to Trans-Australia Airlines, leaving Qantas with a purely international network.

10. Tokyo and Hong Kong Services: Shortly after nationalization, QEA began its first services outside the British Empire to Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Modern Milestones and Achievements

From pioneering long-haul flights to adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic, Qantas has continued to innovate and lead.

11. Head Office in Sydney: In 1957, a head office, Qantas House, opened in Sydney, marking a significant milestone in the airline's growth and development.

12. Sydney-London Flight: Qantas made its first Sydney-London flight in its own right in December 1947, leaving Australia on December 1 and landing in the UK on December 5.

13. Antarctic Flightseeing: Qantas operates flightseeing charters to Antarctica on behalf of Croydon Travel, first flying these trips in 1977. The flights were suspended after the crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 on Mount Erebus in 1979 but resumed in 1994.

14. Sector Whiteout: These Antarctic flights require specific polar operations and crew training due to factors like sector whiteout, which contributed to the 1979 Air New Zealand disaster.

15. Non-Stop Flights: With Flights 7 and 8 – a non-stop service between Sydney and Dallas/Fort Worth operated by the Airbus A380 – commencing on September 29, 2014, Qantas operated the world's longest passenger flight on the world's largest passenger aircraft.

16. Overtaken by Emirates: This record was overtaken in March 2016 by Emirates' new Auckland-Dubai service.

17. Perth-London Flights: In 2018, Qantas announced an intention to launch non-stop flights between Perth and London. The inaugural flight left Perth on March 24, 2020.

18. COVID-19 Impact: On March 19, 2020, Qantas suspended all international flights and about 60% of domestic flights from the end of March until at least May 31, 2020, following expanded COVID-19 pandemic government travel restrictions.

Partnerships and Fleet

Qantas' extensive network of codeshare agreements and its diverse fleet play a crucial role in its operations.

19. Codeshare Agreements: As of October 2016, Qantas had codeshare agreements with several airlines, including Aircalin, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Niugini, Airnorth, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Vanuatu, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, El Al, Emirates, Fiji Airways, Finnair, IndiGo, ITA Airways, Japan Airlines, Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Pacific, KLM, LATAM Chile, Solomon Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, and WestJet.

20. Joint Ventures: In addition to codeshares, Qantas has entered into joint ventures with several airlines, enhancing its global reach and operational efficiency.

21. Current Fleet: As of August 2023, Qantas and its subsidiaries operated 337 aircraft, including 79 aircraft by Jetstar Airways, 116 by QantasLink-branded airlines, and 17 by Express Freighters Australia (on behalf of Qantas Freight).

22. Aircraft Types: The fleet includes various types of aircraft such as Airbus A380s, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, and other models like Boeing 717s, 737s, 747s, and 767s.

Domestic and International Services

Qantas serves a vast array of destinations, both within Australia and around the globe.

23. Domestic and International Services: Qantas operates over 5,300 domestic flights a week and nearly 540 international flights every week, serving 67 domestic destinations and 75 international destinations across 32 countries.

24. Major Cities Served: The airline serves major cities in the Asia/Pacific region, the UK, Europe, North America, South America, and southern Africa.

Subsidiaries and Shareholdings

Qantas' network extends beyond its own operations, with several subsidiary companies and strategic shareholdings.

25. Subsidiary Companies: Qantas operates several subsidiary companies including QantasLink, Qantas Freight, Qantas Flight Catering, and Qantas Holidays, each specializing in different aspects of air transportation.

26. Shareholdings: Qantas holds a 46.3% shareholding in Air Pacific and has a significant stake in other airlines due to its strategic partnerships and joint ventures.

27. British Airways Interest: British Airways has an 18.9% interest in Qantas, reflecting the long-standing relationship between the two airlines.

Operational and Financial Performance

Qantas' operational statistics and financial performance highlight its success and growth over the years.

28. Operational Statistics: In the year ended June 30, 2002, Qantas carried 27.128 million passengers, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) at 75.134 million and available seat kilometers (ASKs) at 95.944 million.

29. Financial Performance: Qantas recorded a net profit before tax of $631 million in the year ended June 30, 2002, with a net profit after tax of $428 million, representing a 3% increase over the previous year.

30. Dividend Payments: The Directors declared a fully franked final dividend of nine cents per share, bringing total fully franked dividends for the year to 17 cents per share.

Corporate Information and Customer Commitment

Qantas' commitment to its customers and its corporate structure are key aspects of its operations.

31. Registered Address: Qantas Airways Limited is registered at 203 Coward Street, Mascot NSW 2020, Australia, with a phone number of +61 2 9691 3636 and fax number of +61 2 9691 3339.

32. Website Information: The website provides facilities for domestic and international bookings, frequent flyer point redemption, product information, online schedules, arrival and departure information, company history, and major media releases.

33. Customer Charter: Qantas has a customer charter that outlines its commitment to passengers, ensuring a high level of service and reliability.

34. Departments: The airline operates various departments including Flight Training, Procurement, Engineering, and more, each contributing to the smooth operation of its services.

Community Contributions and Leadership

Qantas' contributions to the community and its strong leadership team are integral to its identity.

35. Community Contributions: Qantas contributes to the arts, charities, and sporting groups in the community through various partnerships and initiatives.

36. Leadership Team: The company has a strong leadership team, with key executives including Chairperson Richard Goyder and CEO Vanessa Hudson, who have been instrumental in shaping the airline's strategy and performance.

37. Governance and Social Responsibility: Qantas is committed to governance and social responsibility, meeting its leadership team and learning about its governance practices and social responsibility initiatives.

Investor Information and Fleet Features

Qantas provides valuable information for investors and boasts a modern fleet with advanced features.

38. Investor Information: The corporate site provides information on the Group's strategy, performance, and key financial data, making it a valuable resource for investors.

39. Fleet Features: The Qantas fleet includes advanced aircraft like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which offer superior comfort and efficiency to passengers.

Historical Evolution and Pioneering Services

Qantas' journey from its early days to its current status as a global airline is marked by significant milestones and pioneering services.

40. Historical Evolution: From its early days in Winton and Longreach to its current status as a global airline, Qantas has undergone significant transformations, including the introduction of new aircraft and routes.

41. Pioneering Services: Qantas has pioneered services from Australia to North America and Europe, establishing itself as one of the world's leading long-distance airlines.

Staff and Network

Qantas' extensive network and dedicated staff are key to its success.

42. Staff and Network: The airline employs over 33,000 staff across a network spanning 142 destinations in Australia, Africa, the Americas, Asia, UK/Europe, and the Pacific.

Aircraft Operations and Business Trends

Qantas' aircraft operations and business trends highlight its focus on safety, innovation, and customer service.

43. Aircraft Operations: In November 2002, Qantas operated a fleet of 186 aircraft, comprising Boeing 717s, 737s, 747s, and 767s, British Aerospace 146s, and De Havilland Dash 8s.

44. Business Trends: The key trends for the Qantas Group include the transportation of passengers and air freight, with a focus on safety, innovation, and customer service.

Subsidiary Businesses and Partnerships

Qantas' subsidiary businesses and strategic partnerships play a crucial role in its operations.

45. Subsidiary Businesses: Qantas operates several subsidiary businesses including QantasLink, Qantas Freight, Qantas Flight Catering, and Qantas Holidays, each specializing in different aspects of air transportation.

46. Partnerships and Investments: The company holds a 46.3% shareholding in Air Pacific and has significant stakes in other airlines due to its strategic partnerships and joint ventures.

Operational Statistics and Financial Performance (2002)

Qantas' operational statistics and financial performance in 2002 highlight its success and growth.

47. Operational Statistics (2002): In the year ended June 30, 2002, Qantas carried 27.128 million passengers, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) at 75.134 million and available seat kilometers (ASKs) at 95.944 million.

48. Financial Performance (2002): Qantas recorded a net profit before tax of $631 million in the year ended June 30, 2002, with a net profit after tax of $428 million, representing a 3% increase over the previous year.

49. Dividend Payments (2002): The Directors declared a fully franked final dividend of nine cents per share, bringing total fully franked dividends for the year to 17 cents per share.

Company Structure and Evolution

Qantas' company structure and evolution reflect its growth and adaptation over the years.

50. Company Structure: The current company structure of Qantas Airways Limited was established in 1993, transitioning from an unlisted public company to a listed public company after the Australian Government's privatization move.

Qantas: A Century of Excellence

Qantas has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1920. From its first aircraft, the Avro 504K, to its modern fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, Qantas has consistently pushed the boundaries of aviation. The airline's commitment to safety, innovation, and customer service has made it a global leader. With over 5,300 domestic flights and nearly 540 international flights weekly, Qantas connects Australia to the world. Despite challenges like World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic, Qantas has shown resilience and adaptability. Its partnerships, joint ventures, and subsidiary companies further strengthen its position in the aviation industry. As Qantas continues to evolve, it remains a testament to the pioneering spirit of its founders and the dedication of its employees. Here's to another century of excellence in the skies.