Qantas

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Qantas (pronounced [kwɒntəs]) is the name and callsign of the world's second oldest continuously running independent airline behind Avianca. Qantas is an acronym for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services." The company is now based in Sydney, New South Wales and it is Australia's largest airline. It is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange as ASX: [QAN].

History

Qantas was founded in Queensland on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territorial Aerial Services Limited. It operated air mail services subsidized by the Australian government, linking railheads in western Queensland. In 1934, QANTAS Limited and Britain's Imperial Airways (the forerunner of British Airways) formed a new company, Qantas Empire Airways Limited. Each partner held 49 %, with two per cent in the hands of an independent arbitrator.

Qantas Empire Airways commenced services between Brisbane and Singapore using de Havilland DH-86 Commonwealth Airliners. Imperial Airways operated the rest of the service through to London. In 1938, this operation was replaced by a flying boat service using Shorts S.23 Empire Flying Boats. The Sydney to Southampton service took nine days, with passengers staying in hotels overnight. Most of the QEA fleet was taken over by the Australian government for war service between 1939 and 1945, and most of these aircraft were lost in action. QEA operated a non-stop flying boat service between Perth and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1943-44. The flights operated in complete radio silence and took more than twenty-four hours.

After World War II, QEA Limited was in dire financial straits and was taken over by the Australian Labor government led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley. It remained an unlisted public company with the government holding 100 % of the shares. In 1967, the name was changed to Qantas Airways Limited. Subsequent governments maintained this arrangement.

Immediately after World War II, Qantas began operating Avro Lancastrian aircraft between Sydney and London in cooperation with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). In 1948, the airline took delivery of Lockheed L.049 Constellations. The network was expanded across the Pacific in 1954 when Qantas took over the operations of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines (BCPA).

By the 1960s, Qantas was operating round-the-world services from Australia to London via Asia and the Middle East and via the USA and Mexico. Many of these routes were dropped in the 1970s following the airline slump after wide-body aircraft were introduced. Qantas was privatised in 1995 by Prime Minister Paul Keating's Labor government.

In 1990, Qantas established Australia Asia Airlines to operate services to Taiwan. Several Boeing 747SP and 767 aircraft were transferred from Qantas service. The airline ceased operations in 1996.

Since the merger with Australian Airlines in 1993, Qantas has flown an extensive schedule between all Australian capital cities, as well as many regional cities and towns. It also flies many international routes to and from Australia.

Qantas has a reputation for being an aggressive competitor in the Australian aviation market. Over the years, several domestic Australian airlines have gone out of business amid complaints of anti-competitive pricing by Qantas and exorbitant prices on new monopoly routes. After September 2001 and the collapse of Ansett Australia, Qantas held a near-monopoly on the Australian domestic air travel market. The introduction of Virgin Blue, a cut-price competitor, has taken up the market share previously held by Ansett. Qantas has responded by creating a new cut-price subsidiary airline Jetstar in the hopes that this move will "crowd out" the cut-price segment of the market, allowing Qantas to remain the superdominant player in the Australian domestic aviation market and one of the few profitable full-service airlines in the world. Prior to Jetstar, Qantas had also developed a full-service all economy international carrier focussed on the holiday and leisure market, which had taken on the formerly used Australian Airlines name. This airline will cease operating its own liveried aircraft in July 2006, the assets being absorbed back into the parent company. However, Australian Airlines will continue to exist as a "wet lease" company, operating and crewing Qantas aircraft on Qantas routes.

On 13 December 2004, the first flight of Jetstar Asia Airways took off from its Singapore hub to Hong Kong, marking Qantas' entry into the Asian cut-price market, and its intentions in battling key competitor Singapore Airlines on its home ground. Qantas is already the second-largest airline operating out of Singapore Changi Airport, while Singapore Airlines is the second-largest operator of international flights into and out of Australia.

Qantas has also expanded into the New Zealand domestic air travel market, firstly with a shareholding in Air New Zealand and then with a franchise takeover of Ansett New Zealand. It now wholly owns and operates JetConnect which operates NZ domestic services under the Qantas brand. In 2003, Qantas attempted and failed to obtain regulatory approval to purchase a larger (but still minority) stake in Air New Zealand. Subsequently Qantas stepped up competition on the trans-Tasman routes, recently introducing Jetstar to New Zealand.

Qantas inaugurated a service Sydney-Vancouver, in June 2006. It now operates 3 flights a week, using a Boeing 747-400 via San Francisco.

It will replace its daily Melbourne-Launceston Boeing 737 service with a twice daily QantasLink Dash 8 service from 1 August 2006. It will also suspend all flights into Burnie Airport from 31 July 2006.

In 1993, British Airways bought a 25 % share in Qantas for A$665m. In September 2004, British Airways disposed of its share in Qantas, expected to amount to A$1.1bn. British Airways' original 25% share had been diluted to 18.5% by the issue of more shares. By law, Qantas must be at least 51% Australian-owned, and the British Airways holding had brought foreign ownership to the maximum permissible level. Commentators believe the sale, and resultant greater Australian ownership, will free up hurdles for Qantas to expand into Asia.

Qantas owns the rights for entertainment from the Nine Network, TCN-9 & GTV-9

Qantas is responsible for some of the most successful marketing campaigns in Australian history, with many advertising campaigns featuring renditions by children's choirs of Peter Allen's "I Still Call Australia Home," set to footage of breathtaking scenery. For American television audiences, however, the mascot was an Australian koala, who of all things detested Qantas Airlines (his key tagline: "I hate Qantas").

In 2005, the first visit of an Airbus A380 to Australia coincided with Qantas's 85th birthday. Today, Qantas is widely regarded as one of the world's leading long haul airlines.

2005 News

On 14 December 2005, Qantas announced an order for 115 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft (45 firm orders, 20 options and 50 purchase rights). The aircraft will allow Qantas to replace their current 767-300 fleet, increase capacity and establish new routes. Jetstar, Qantas' low-cost subsidiary, will also operate 10 of the new aircraft on international routes. The first of the 787s are scheduled to be delivered to Jetstar in August 2008.

In mid-2005 Qantas announced it would recommence services to Beijing, Seoul, San Francisco and Vancouver, and also that it would increase services to Shanghai and Johannesburg. On 30 November 2005 Qantas announced that services to New York (via Los Angeles) would go from 3 per week to 5 per week from 27 February 2006. There are also plans to increase services to India, by making the current three times weekly service to Mumbai (Bombay) into a daily return flight.

2006 news

Qantas used a small promotional animation its website to officially announce it will offer inflight internet services on its fleet of A380s.[link]

Incidents and accidents

• On 26 May 1971 Qantas received a call from a "Mr Brown" claiming that there was a bomb planted on a Hong Kong-bound jet and that he wanted $500,000. Arrangements were made to pick up the money from the head office of the airline in the heart of the Sydney business district. After Qantas paid the money and it was safely collected, Mr Brown called again, advising the bomb story was a hoax. The initial pursuit of the perpetrator was bungled by the NSW Police who, despite having been advised of the matter from the time of the first call, failed to establish adequate surveillance of the pick up of the money. Tipped off by a car dealer who had received a large amount of cash from a purchaser, the police eventually arrested an Englishman, Peter Macari, finding more than $138,000 hidden in an Annandale property. Convicted and sentenced to 15 years' jail, Macari served nine years before being deported to England.
• It is often claimed, most notably in the 1988 movie Rain Man, that Qantas has never had a fatal crash. However, the company's official line is that it has never lost a "jet" aircraft. Prior to the jet era, Qantas had fatal crashes. One was on 16 July 1951, when De Havilland Drover

|) | }} }} crashed in New Guinea after an engine failure, killing all seven passengers and crew. Other fatal accidents occurred in 1927, 1934, 1942, 1943 (×2), and 1944.

• Qantas' record in the jet era was spotless until Boeing 747-400

|) | }} }}, carrying 407 passengers and crew, over-ran the runway by 220 metres, ending up in a golf course, while landing in a rainstorm at Bangkok on 23 September 1999. [link] There were no fatalities; however, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau criticised numerous inadequacies in Qantas' operational and training processes. [link] Repairs to the nine-year-old aircraft were undertaken in Bangkok and China at a cost in excess of A$100 million, believed to be the most expensive in history. The aircraft had suffered extensive damage to landing gear, engines and engine pylons and the front fuselage and it was widely suggested at the time that it should have been written-off. Qantas denied that pressure had been applied to insurers to avoid a hull-loss being recorded so that the airline's safety record would remain intact. The following year 747-300 |) | }} }} was damaged when its landing gear collapsed while taxiing at Rome. It also returned to service after repairs.

• On 21 August 2005, an incident occurred involving Qantas Airbus A330-300

|) | }} }} with 178 passengers and 13 crew aboard. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Kansai Airport in Osaka, Japan after an indication of smoke in the cargo hold. The Osaka Control Tower reported seeing smoke on landing, so an emergency evacuation was declared as a precaution and emergency slides were deployed. Nine passengers were injured and hospitalised. Subsequent investigation found no sign of smoke or fire, and it is believed that the cargo fire sensors were faulty. The aircraft was only 15 months old at the time of the incident.

• On 2 February 2006, a Qantas Boeing 767-300ER

|) | }} }}, carrying 155 passengers and 11 crew, and a United Airlines 747-400, carrying 99 passengers and 14 crew, were involved in a collision while on the runway at Melbourne Airport. The Qantas aircraft sustained damage to a horizontal stabiliser while the United aircraft damaged a wingtip. The Qantas 767 was parked at the holding point awaiting a take-off clearance when the United 747 taxied into it, causing the damage. United released a statement saying its flight 840 from Melbourne to Los Angeles via Sydney "reported a wingtip touch with a Qantas aircraft as it taxied". No passengers were injured in the incident. Qantas recently hired a new safety officer, Andrew Thrush. [link]

Destinations

See full article: Qantas destinations

Fleet

The Qantas fleet consists of the following aircraft (at June 2006):

Aircraft	#	Seats	Notes
Airbus A330-201	4		(VH-EBA to VH-EBD), currently used on 'CityFlyer' domestic services between major cities but will be transferred to Jetstar International from July 2006.
Airbus A330-303	10		(VH-QPA to VH-QPJ)
Airbus A380-800	(12 on order)		(Regos starting at VH-QRA) Will be operated in a three class, 501 seat configuration on international services. Qantas intends to place the first four aircraft on trans-Pacific routes from Melbourne and Sydney to Los Angeles and later aircraft on services between Australia and London via Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Singapore (ref: Airliner World, March 2005). Qantas will also make aviation history by operating the longest 500-passenger service in the world, flying between Melbourne and Los Angeles (12,749 km). The interior design for the A380 aircraft is expected to feature new seat design, special lounge areas, AVOD, internet capability, and larger entertainment screens.
Boeing 737-400	18		(comprising 17 Boeing 737-476 inherited from Australian Airlines and 1 Boeing 737-4L7) (VH-TJE to VH-TJI, VH-TJK to VH-TJO, VH-TJR to VH-TJU and VH-TJW to VH-TJZ)
Boeing 737-838	33		(VH-VXA to VH-VXU and VH-VYA to VH-VYL)
Boeing 747-338	6		(VH-EBT to VH-EBY) (one currently unserviceable (VH-EBU) and stored at Avalon Airport). The 747-300s are in a two class configuration only and are used mainly on leisure routes such as to Honolulu and Tokyo and some peak long-haul domestic services such as Sydney to Perth. They are also periodically wet-leased to other airlines and chartered.
Boeing 747-400	30		Includes 21 747-438 (VH-OJA to VH-OJU), 6 747-438ER (VH-OEE to VH-OEJ), 2 747-4H6 VH-OEC/D) and 1 747-48E (VH-OEB).
Boeing 767-300	24		Includes 17 767-338ER (VH-OGA to VH-OGH and VH-OGM to VH-OGU), 5 767-336ER (VH-ZXB/C/D/F/G), and 2 767-336 (VH-ZXA/E).
Boeing 787	(45 on order)

The 767-336 and 767-336ER aircraft are leased from British Airways (BA) on a long term basis and entered service with Qantas in 2000 and 2001. The 767s are in various configurations. The BA aircraft are in a 30 business seats, 214 economy seats (30/214) configuration inherited from them and are used exclusively on domestic, primarily Melbourne to Sydney, services. Other 767s in domestic service are a 30/224 configuration. Aircraft configured for services to New Zealand are 25/219 and for other international destinations 25/204. The main difference between domestic and international configurations is 6 abreast seating in domestic business class and 5 abreast in international.

The average age of Qantas fleet was 9.5 years in June 2006.

Qantas has placed an order for twelve Airbus A380-800, with options for ten more. It will be the second airline (after launch customer Singapore Airlines) to receive an A380 and is now expected to take delivery of its first aircraft in October 2007, after Airbus reported delays in delivering the aircraft [link].

On December 14, 2005, Qantas announced an order for 45 Boeing 787s, plus 20 options and purchase rights on 50 more, with some going to JetStar.[link] The aircraft are a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s. This announcement came after a long battle between Boeing and Airbus to meet the airline's needs for fleet renewal and future routes. Delivery of the 787 will start in 2008, with the 787-9 coming in 2011. Although Qantas did not choose the Boeing 777-200LR it is rumoured that Qantas is still looking into buying planes capable of flying London-Sydney non-stop.

Aircraft Fleet Naming

Naming of Qantas' fleet has occurred since the arrival of the first DH50. This aircraft was named Iris, by the Wife of the Governor General of the time. Since that time, new fleet have been given names from a specific theme:

• 1929 (DH61 Aircraft) — Grecian Theme (Apollo, Diana, Hermes and Athena)
• 1938 (Flying Boats) — Capella, Carpentaria, Challenger, Champion, Calypso and Camilla
• 1980s — Inspirational Names (Daring, Integrity, Resolute)
• 1980s — Wildlife (Bellbird, Lorikeet and Kestrel)
• 2002 — Re-establishment of naming practice of fleet after Towns and Cities of Australia, celebrating Qantas' coverage of Australia
• 2007 (Airbus A380) — First A380 will be named Nancy Bird Walton, remainder as yet are un-named however will be themed on Australian Aviation Pioneers.

Qantas Club

See article Qantas Club

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Other facts of interest

• The first aircraft owned by Qantas was Avro 504K

|) | }} }}, purchased for £1425. Cruising speed was 105 kilometres per hour (65 mph), carrying 1 pilot and 2 passengers.

• In the 1920s Qantas built a number of aircraft (De Havilland DH50s and a single DH9) under licence in its Longreach hangar.
• In 1928 a chartered Qantas aircraft conducted the inaugural flight of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, departing from Cloncurry.
• The first Qantas Boeing 707 was delivered to the airline in Seattle on 26 June 1959.
• Qantas Boeing 707s were nicknamed V jets from the latin vannus meaning fan.
• In 1979 Qantas was the only airline in the world to operate a fleet consisting entirely of Boeing 747's.
• Qantas has three planes painted in Australian Aboriginal art liveries: Wunala Dreaming (Boeing 747-438ER

|) | }} }}), Nalanji Dreaming (Boeing 747-338 |) | }} }}, currently in long term storage) and Yananyi Dreaming (Boeing 737-838 |) | }} }}). All three carry striking, colourful liveries, designed by Australian Aborigines. British Airways used these designs on their tailfins as part of their 1997 "ethnic art" relaunch.

• Its first international destination was to the island state of Singapore.
• Actor John Travolta personally owns and pilots an ex-Qantas Boeing 707 painted in the Qantas livery of the 1960s. He is also qualified for flying the Boeing 747-400 as a First Officer — he commenced and completed his training with Qantas.
• Qantas recently re-introduced hot face towels for economy class on all long haul flights
• Qantas owns 49% of the Fiji based international carrier - Air Pacific & 50% of Australian Air Express (with Australia Post)
• Qantas was recently voted 2nd best airline in the world in the 2006 World Airline Awards (with surveys conducted by Skytrax) behind British Airways [link]

Flight Numbers

The following is a summary of Qantas international flight numbers. Odd-numbered flights indicate departures from Australia, whereas even numbers signify return flights.

• QF 1,2 - Sydney to London via Bangkok (Kangaroo route)
• QF 3,4 - Sydney to Honolulu
• QF 5,6 - Sydney to Frankfurt via Singapore
• QF 8 - Los Angeles to Sydney
• QF 9,10 - Melbourne to London via Singapore
• QF 11,12 - Sydney to Los Angeles
• QF 19,20 - Sydney to Manila
• QF 21,22 - Sydney to Tokyo
• QF 25,26 - Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles via Auckland
• QF 29,30 - Melbourne to London via Hong Kong
• QF 31,32 - Sydney to London via Singapore
• QF 37,38 - Melbourne to Wellington
• QF 39,40 - Melbourne to Auckland
• QF 41,42 - Sydney to Jakarta
• QF 43,44 - Sydney to Auckland
• QF 45,46 - Sydney to Christchurch
• QF 47,48 - Sydney to Wellington
• QF 51,52 - Brisbane to Singapore
• QF 53,54 - Adelaide to Auckland
• QF 57,58 - Brisbane to Wellington
• QF 60 - Tokyo to Sydney via Cairns
• QF 63,64 - Sydney to Johannesburg
• QF 67,68 - Perth to Hong Kong
• QF 69 - Brisbane to Tokyo via Cairns
• QF 71,72 - Perth to Singapore
• QF 73,74 - Sydney to Vancouver via San Francisco
• QF 77,78 - Perth to Singapore
• QF 79,70 - Perth to Tokyo
• QF 81,82 - Sydney or Melbourne to Singapore via Adelaide
• QF 90 - Noumea to Brisbane
• QF 91,92 - Sydney to Noumea
• QF 93,94 - Melbourne to Los Angeles
• QF 97,98 - Brisbane to Hong Kong
• QF 99 - Brisbane to Noumea
• QF 107,108 - Sydney to New York via Los Angeles
• QF 115,116 - Brisbane to Auckland
• QF 117,118 - Sydney to Wellington
• QF 119,120 - Sydney to Auckland
• QF 121,122 - Sydney to Queenstown
• QF 123,124 - Sydney to Mumbai via Darwin
• QF 125,126 - Brisbane to Auckland
• QF 127,128 - Sydney to Hong Kong
• QF 129,130 - Sydney to Shanghai
• QF 131,132 - Darwin to Bali
• QF 134 - Auckland to Melbourne
• QF 139,140 - Perth to Jakarta
• QF 149,150 - Sydney to Los Angeles
• QF 160 - Tokyo to Sydney via Cairns
• QF 163,164 - Sydney to Auckland
• QF 167 - Sydney to Tokyo via Cairns
• QF 168 - Tokyo to Brisbane via Cairns
• QF 175,176 - Brisbane to Los Angeles
• QF 179,180 - Melbourne to Tokyo
• QF 187,188 - Sydney to Hong Kong
• QF 189,190 - Sydney to Auckland
• QF 191,192 - Sydney to Beijing

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