Qantas is celebrating 90 years of international flying, marking nine decades since the airline’s first international passenger service linked Brisbane to Singapore via a three-and-a-half-day journey with sixteen stops.

For UK-based business travellers who frequently rely on efficient and reliable international connections, this milestone underscores the ongoing evolution of global air travel. With Qantas’ plans to expand its network and launch ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights from Sydney to London and New York, business travel between the UK and Australia is set to become even more direct and time-effective, offering greater convenience and choice to Global Travel Management customers.

Since its inaugural international passenger flight on 17 April 1935, when just two passengers were carried aboard a DH86 aircraft, Qantas has grown to fly 273 million customers across 56 routes to 34 destinations in 25 countries. Today, the Brisbane to Singapore journey that once took more than three days can be completed in just eight hours on a modern Qantas Airbus A330.

Cam Wallace, Qantas CEO International, said: “Our first international flight took over three days to reach Singapore from Brisbane, carrying just a few passengers and making more than 15 stops. Fast forward to today and we’re flying thousands of passengers daily on nonstop services between Australia to Singapore and over 7.6 million customers travelled on our broader international network in 2024 – a powerful reflection of how far international travel has come. We’re incredibly proud of our history, but equally excited about what’s ahead. This year will see more growth across the Qantas international network, with the launch of flights from Melbourne to Honolulu next month and Sydney to Sapporo later in the year. We also look forward to the arrival of our new A350 aircraft, which will reshape what’s possible in ultra-long-haul travel with the introduction of our Project Sunrise non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York.”

To commemorate the 90th anniversary, Qantas is offering Australians and aviation enthusiasts a rare glimpse into its past, unveiling a collection of historical content from its official archives. This material offers a fascinating perspective on how the aviation industry has transformed over the decades. In addition, Qantas will release three limited edition amenity kits for Business customers, featuring designs inspired by the airline’s rich archive of historical art, set to roll out across the network in the coming months.

Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, commented: “The continued investment and innovation by Qantas mean that UK-based business travellers can look forward to even more efficient and comfortable journeys to Australia and beyond. Initiatives like Project Sunrise are set to transform long-haul travel, saving our customers valuable time and offering greater flexibility.”

If you would like further information about Qantas’ 90-year milestone and upcoming developments in its international network, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.