Some of the busiest domestic air routes in the world are Australian. Four TAA DC4 aircraft arrived in October and services to all Australian capitals were in place by December.The Australian government acquired all the shares in Qantas and the airline passed into public ownership.The first Qantas Lockheed Constellation arrives in Australia and through-services from Sydney to London on the Kangaroo Route began in December.The first Qantas flight hostesses joined the airline.Qantas flew its first regular air service to Japan on behalf of the RAAF carrying six passengers in a Lancastrian aircraft.TAA revolutionised domestic air travel with the delivery of the first pressurised Convair 240 aircraft.Qantas Queensland and Northern Territory networks and flying doctor services were transferred to TAA. Two Qantas Empire flying boats were shot down by Japanese aircraft in early 1942.The Qantas hangar and flying boat servicing facilities were destroyed in the first Japanese air raid on Darwin on 19 February 1942. See the old and new logos designed by Houston Group below. Note the shape of the Australian continent in the southern hemisphere of the globe and the British Isles in the Northern. The wordmark appeared under the emblem.
QEA was to operate the Singapore-Australia leg of the Empire Air Mail service.A Qantas four-engine DH86 flew from Brisbane to Singapore, the airline’s first overseas flight. This comes about after a massive restructure of the business to reduce costs and increase efficiency.Qantas announced acquisition of the Boeing 787-9 for long range routes replacing the Boeing 747-400.A new Qantas livery is introduced featuring a modern interpretation of the kangaroo logo by designer Marc Newson and the Houston Group.In-flight Wi-Fi on Qantas Domestic service introduced.The first Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is delivered. It was far from what we all know now, but still a very friendly and even touching emblem. This insignia is the base for all the following versions, a truly iconic symbol.The globe was removed from the logo in 1968. The change is only the fifth time the red-and-white image on the tail of Qantas aircraft has been updated since it was first introduced in 1944.
The black color is changed to gray, which softens the emblem, making it more luxurious.The carrier redesigned its logo again in 2016. Qantas becomes the world’s only all-Boeing 747 airline.TAA begins a Hobart-Christchurch service on behalf of Qantas.TAA took delivery of its first Airbus A300-B4, introducing wide-bodied aircraft to Australian domestic routes.Qantas and CAAC introduce a regular air service between China and Australia.A new Qantas livery and corporate identity is introduced, featuring red and white.Qantas celebrates 50 years of international air services.TAA was renamed Australian Airlines and takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-376.Australian Airlines subsidiary, Australian Regional Airlines begins operations in Queensland with de Havilland Twin Otter aircraft.Qantas launches a new staff uniform designed by Yves St Laurent.A Qantas Boeing 747-438 establishes a world record non-stop flight for a commercial aircraft by flying from London to Sydney in just over 20 hours.Australian Airlines acquires Sunstate Airlines in Queensland and Mildura.
The triangle gets rounded arched lines and a new gradient color palette, while the nameplate is back to black color. This inaugurates the world’s first Future Air Navigation System (FANS) technology, allowing aircraft to operate in areas without traditional radar coverage.Qantas’ four regional airlines commenced operating under the new brand, QantasLink.Qantas acquires Impulse Airlines and merges it into QantasLink operations.Qantas announces the formation of a new international leisure airline, Australian Airlines.Qantas announces it will order 12 Airbus A380 aircraft for long-haul services.Qantas took delivery of the first passenger Boeing 747-400ER aircraft.A new Australian Airlines operated its first flight from Cairns to Nagoya and Osaka as a low-cost tourist service.Qantas took delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 aircraft.Qantas introduces a new uniform for frontline staff created by leading Australian designer, Peter Morrissey.Qantas becomes the first airline to introduce cabin mood lighting to reduce jet-lag.Jetstar begins operations to 14 destinations in Australia.Jetstar Asia begins services from Singapore to six Asian destinations. TAA took delivery of its turbo-prop Fokker Friendship and Lockheed Electra aircraft. Qantas shares were first listed on the Australian Stock Exchange on 31 July.Qantas becomes a foundation member of the new global airline marketing alliance, Qantas becomes the first airline to fly non-stop between Melbourne and Los Angeles.Services to New York resume after a gap of 26 years.Qantas Defence Services is established to carry out work for the Australian Defence Force.First Qantas flight on the Silk Road Route over Tibet. An estimated 50,000 people turned out to see the new aircraft when it visited Sydney.Two Qantas Short Empire flying boats arrived at Rose Bay, Sydney.The first Sydney-Southampton flight departs from Rose Bay.
Joy-flights and charter work are the mainstays of the business.
The ‘NT’ in Qantas represented their plan to fly overseas via Darwin as the main aerial port of entry at the time. Written in a bold black sans-serif typeface. They had recently completed the first overland motor survey of northern Australia by Model T Ford. 1926. The animal, facing left was drawn in white and placed inside a camel-brown circle, with the white wordmark around its perimeter.The Flying Kangaroo emblem was designed in 1947. Join us as we dream bigger, fly further and create a brighter future, together.