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THE MARKET
Qantas is the world’s second oldest airline and
Australia’s leading airline, operating more than
5,000 domestic flights a week under the Qantas,
QantasLink and Jetstar brands. The airline serves
57 destinations in Australia, across all states and
mainland territories. The Qantas Group operates
nearly 750 international flights everyweek, offering
services to 82 overseas destinations in 36 countries
(including codeshare services). The airline serves
major cities in the Asia/Pacific region, the UK,
Europe, North America, South America and
southern Africa.
The Qantas Group carried nearly 34 million
passengers in the year ended 30 June, 2006.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Qantas has a widely acknowledged history of
innovation. As early as 1958, it pioneered a round-
the-world service, with two Super Constellations
circumnavigating the globe in opposite directions.
In 1979 it was the first airline to introduce Business
Class.
Qantas has twice won the prestigious
Cumberbatch trophy - awarded by theBritishGuild
of Air Pilots and Air Navigators for safety and
reliability.
Qantas is committed to the highest standards of
corporate social responsibility and is a proud
financial and hands-on supporter of a wide range
of community, arts and sporting organisations. In
April 2003, Qantas was awarded the inaugural
Queensland Community Foundation Award in
recognition of the company’s ongoing support of
communities in need, with particular mention of
Qantas’ efforts following the tragic bombings in
Bali inOctober 2002.
In 2003 Qantas and long-term partner UNICEF
were awarded the Australian Financial Review
Magazine’s award for outstanding long term
partnership.
HISTORY
Qantas was established by pioneer aviators Paul
McGinness and Wilmot Hudson Fysh on their
return fromservicewith theAustralianFlyingCorps
in World War I, and grazier, Fergus McMaster. It
was registered in Brisbane on 16 November 1920.
The company takes its name from the initial letters
in the words in the original registered title -
Queensland andNorthernTerritoryAerial Services
Limited. The company began its operations with
joy rides and air taxi flights. Regular scheduled
airmail and passenger services began on 2
November 1922, from Charleville to Cloncurry in
rural Queensland. The journey of 923 kilometres
took two days with an overnight stop at Longreach.
In 1919 McGinness and Hudson Fysh were
commissioned to find suitable landing grounds for
a Great Britain-Australia air race.After completing
the survey in aModel T Ford, theywere convinced
that air travel was the ideal alternative for crossing
sparsely populated country where roads were
almost non-existent. McGinness soon pursued
other interests, Fysh - later Sir Hudson - remained
with the company for 46 years. He was knighted in
1953 and retired as Chairman in 1966.
Qantas has played a key role in the development
of Australian and international aviation. In 1928 it
operated the first flying doctor service for the
Reverend John Flynn’sAustralian Inland Mission.
In 1931 Qantas made its first link with Imperial
Airways (a predecessor of BritishAirways) when it
carried mail to Darwin as part of an experimental
Australia-UK service.
The year 1934 saw the formation of Qantas
Empire Airways Limited, with Imperial Airways
holding 50 per cent. The two airlines began regular
Australia-UK services in December 1934, initially
carrying onlymail.
AQantas aircraft flewoverseas for the first time
in February 1935 when a DH86 operated the
Brisbane to Singapore section of the service, and
the first Qantas overseas passenger left Brisbane
for Singapore in April 1935. Four-engined Shorts
‘Empire’ flying boats brought new levels of luxury
and comfort to theAustralia-UK service from July
1938.
THE PRODUCT
All Qantas aircraft are maintained to the highest
standards and are flown by some of the world’s
most experienced pilots. Qantas also undertakes
engineering, pilot and cabin crew training for
customer airlines.
Qantas’ total fleet currently comprises of nearly
216aircraft, comprisingBoeing747s, 767s, 737s and
717s. The group also operates Airbus A330s and
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