Book Cheap Flights with Qantas

As the biggest airline in Australia, Qantas travels to 81 destinations worldwide. Based in Sydney, New South Wales, it is also Australia’s National Airline and is among the 20 biggest airlines in the world. It has plans of further expanding its operations by adding more destinations such as South Africa in the next few years.

Founded on November 16 1920, the name Qantas originally stood for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. Qantas’ long and successful history is marked by several milestones. Qantas was the first non-US airline to order a Boeing 707 jet airliner. This happened in 1956. It was also the first airline to ever introduce the Business class.

In 1958, Qantas became among the few that flew around the world, flying to London from Australia and passing through Asia and the Middle East. In 1992, Qantas bought the domestic carrier Australian Airlines from the Australian government gaining access to the domestic market.

Together with American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and the Canadian Airlines, Qantas co-founded the Oneworld alliance in 1998. The alliance members work together to keep operational costs low and is able to provide consumers with a larger travel network.

Today Qantas remains one of the most profitable airlines in the world with interests in several businesses such as the Air Pacific airlines based in Fiji, the Australian Air Express and the Star Track Express. Qantas owns Jetstar Airwatys, JetConnect and Qantas Link.

After Ansett Australia folded in September of 2001, Qantas gained close to 90% share of the domestic market. But the low fare Virgin Blue gained ground and achieved over 60% market share soon after. In a successful bid to gain back majority of the domestic market, Qantas introduced Jetstar Airways. Jetstar Airways allowed Qantas to gain back and maintain 65% of the domestic market.

Three years later on December 13, 2004, Qantas entered the Asian cut-price market with its first flight from Singapore to Hong Kong with its sister company the Jetstar Asia Airways. Recently Jetstar Airways has expanded its operations to cover the following destinations: Bali (Indonesia), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Osaka (Japan) and Honolulu (Hawaii).

Qantas has expanded its operations in the New Zealand domestic market by taking over Ansett New Zealand and by acquiring shares of Air New Zealand. It has also introduced Jetstar Airways in the country.

Since 1926 Qantas has been naming their aircraft after various people, places and animals. Most of the aircrafts have been named after Australian cities but the A380s will be named after pioneers in Australian Aviation.

Today, Qantas continues to upgrade its fleet and services to provide passengers with the best flying experience. By August 2008, all classes of their A380 fleet will have wireless internet access. The seats will also be fitted with equipment for web browsing and email. Qantas will also be testing in-flight mobile phone use in one of its 767 aircrafts. For its domestic flights, Qantas now allows Online Check in. Passengers can check in at Qantas.com.

In 2006, Qantas was named 2nd best airline in the world following British Airways.