Qantas 90 years of International flights: Today, Qantas proudly marks a monumental milestone — 90 years since taking Australia’s first international passenger flight.
This anniversary not only reflects the extraordinary evolution of the national carrier but also the transformation of global aviation.
SEE: Qantas Environmental and Product Ranking
On 17 April 1935, Qantas took to the skies with its inaugural international service from Brisbane to Singapore, flying just two passengers aboard a DH86 aircraft. The journey took three and a half days and included 16 stops.
Qantas 90 years of international flights: Scorecard
Ninety years later, Qantas has flown over 273 million passengers across its international network, now spanning 56 routes to 34 destinations in 25 countries.
Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace described the anniversary as a defining moment:
“That first international flight was a three-day marathon to Singapore with multiple stops and just a handful of passengers. Today, we fly thousands daily on direct routes between Australia and major global cities. In 2024 alone, more than 7.6 million customers travelled with us internationally — a powerful symbol of how far we’ve come.”
Wallace also looked to the future:
“Our history is rich, and our future is even more exciting. Next month, we’ll launch new flights from Melbourne to Honolulu, followed by Sydney to Sapporo later this year. And with the upcoming arrival of our A350 fleet, we’re preparing to redefine long-haul travel through Project Sunrise, launching non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York.”
To commemorate the 90th anniversary, Qantas is opening the vault on its history, sharing rare and captivating content from its official archives — offering Australians a glimpse into nine decades of aviation innovation and achievement.
As part of the celebration, Qantas will also release three limited edition Business class amenity kits, each featuring heritage artwork from its archives. These will be available on international flights in the months ahead.
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