Qantas, the Australian airline, commemorates a century of aviation excellence.

Qantas, marking 100 years of operation on November 16, is celebrating a rare moment of good news in an aviation industry still grappling with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally founded as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services on November 16, 1920, the airline became known as QANTAS, a name that is now synonymous with Australian aviation.

The airline’s three founders—Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, and Fergus McMaster—saw the potential of air travel as a means to link the isolated communities across Australia’s vast rural areas.

Qantas' first aircraft, an Avro 504, was a pre-World War I biplane capable of carrying a pilot and a single passenger.

Initially, small aircraft transported mail and cargo between remote Outback settlements, but as Australia grew, Qantas (now in lowercase) evolved to become the nation’s flagship carrier in 1959. Its first international flight was to Singapore in 1935.

The iconic kangaroo livery made its debut in 1944, accompanying Qantas as it expanded across the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

“Globally, Qantas is renowned for its safety, record-breaking flights, and pioneering achievements in aviation. But for Australians, there’s nothing quite like seeing the flying kangaroo at the airport, ready to bring you home,” said Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas.

During the pandemic, Qantas played a key role in operating 'relief flights' to bring Australian citizens home from across the globe’s farthest reaches.

Qantas has seen more than just a name change over the years. The airline is credited with creating the business class and, in a typical year, is the only airline that serves all seven continents.

As with many global carriers, Qantas faced a sharp decline in travel due to the pandemic. In response, the airline introduced a unique ‘flight to nowhere’ experience, where passengers enjoyed a seven-hour journey across the Australian continent, soaring over landmarks such as the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru.

Though large-scale celebrations for Qantas' centenary were curtailed by local virus control measures, the airline did commemorate the occasion with a scenic flight over Sydney Harbor.