Qantas Airways is the Australian national airline that was originally an acronym for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services represented as QANTAS.
This is the largest airways and also the second oldest running independent airline. Qantas Airline is based in New South Wales and its main hub is the Sydney Airport.
This airway was founded in 1920 in the Queensland outback by former Australian Flying officers, Paul McGinness and W Hudson Fysh.
This was the first airmail services connecting the western Queensland railheads.
In 1934, this airline entered partnership with the predecessor of British Airways; Britain’s Imperial Airways and thereby emerged as a new company in the name Qantas Empire Airways Limited and commenced its services betweens Singapore and Brisbane. In 1967, the airlines renamed to Qantas Airways Limited and bought Australian Airlines in 1992.
The next year, it sold 25% share to British Airways aiming privatization. Subsequently, Australian Airlines and Qantas were merged to become ‘Australian Airline’.
However, even today Qantas is the leading in the world as long distance airline and is also the strongest brands in Australia. It also is nicknamed ‘The Flying Kangaroo’.
Speaking of awards, Qantas Airways acquired lots of accolades from Skytrax to be the Best Airline Australia in 2005, 2006 and 2008. This was among the top five airlines for consecutive five years and won the Best Overall In-flight Entertainment award in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 and also the Best Inseat Systems Entertainment in 2006.
Qantas also won various wine awards in 2005, 2007 and 2008, besides grabbing in-flights 2005 and 2006 in-flight entertainment guide.
Qantas flights cover all major destinations UK, US, Argentina, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Philippines, China, South Africa and Thailand. It is also one of the best international airlines in India as it has flights to Mumbai City, India.
The domestic destinations include New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland, New Caledonia and Western Australia.
Qantas Airways flies over 6 continents and by the year 2010 has plans to open more routes including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The first class passengers are offered a touch screen monitor with AVOS, flat bed sleeping pod and AC power outlet. The business class offers identical features as first class, but only with slightly small seats.
The economy class has comfortable wide seats, but does not enjoy other features.
