Qantas is celebrating a major milestone today—90 years since it first took to the skies on an international route—marking nearly a century of connecting Australians to the world.
On 17 April 1935, Qantas operated its inaugural international passenger service from Brisbane to Singapore. The journey took three and a half days and included 16 stops, with just two passengers aboard a DH86 aircraft. Today, the same route takes just eight hours on a modern Airbus A330, a striking reflection of how far international travel has evolved.
From two passengers to millions
Since that historic flight, more than 273 million people have flown across the Qantas international network. In 2024 alone, Qantas carried over 7.6 million international passengers across its extensive network of 56 routes to 34 destinations in 25 countries.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the anniversary was a proud moment for the national carrier.
“Our first international flight carried just a few passengers and made more than 15 stops on the way to Singapore. Fast forward to today and we’re flying thousands of people daily on nonstop services between Australia and key global cities,” Wallace said.
“We’re incredibly proud of our history, but equally excited about what’s ahead. This year, we’ll continue expanding our international network with new routes from Melbourne to Honolulu and Sydney to Sapporo.”
He also highlighted the upcoming arrival of Qantas’ new Airbus A350 aircraft, which will play a key role in launching Project Sunrise—the airline’s much-anticipated ultra-long-haul flights connecting Sydney non-stop to London and New York.
A nod to the past
To commemorate 90 years of international flying, Qantas has unveiled a series of historical archives, including rare images and video content, and a detailed timeline documenting the evolution of its global network.
The airline has also revealed three limited-edition amenity kits for Business Class customers. Inspired by the airline’s historic branding and design, these collectible kits will be available on select international flights in the coming months.
