Qantas, Australia’s flagship carrier, marked a major milestone on April 17, 2025, celebrating 90 years since launching its first international flight.
Founded in 1920, Qantas is the world’s third-oldest continuously operating airline, following only KLM and Avianca.
The airline’s inaugural international flight took off on April 17, 1935, covering the 3,300 nautical miles (6,100 km) between Brisbane and Singapore in three and a half days. The journey required 16 stops, showcasing the challenges of long-distance aviation in the early 20th century.
Over the decades, Qantas has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of global aviation. During World War II, the airline operated its historic “Double Sunrise” flights, connecting Western Australia to Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) and India in up to 33 hours of nonstop flying—a record that still stands as the longest continuous commercial flight in history.
Continuing its tradition of innovation, Qantas is preparing to launch Project Sunrise in 2027.
The ambitious service will link Sydney to London nonstop aboard specially equipped Airbus A350-1000s.
Once operational, it will cover 10,573 miles (16,916 km) in approximately 20 hours, making it the longest commercial flight in the world.
Since its first flight in 1935, Qantas has carried over 273 million passengers on its international routes. As of April 2025, the airline’s global network includes 56 routes to 34 destinations across 25 countries.