Qantas Airways Limited

Is Qantas owned by another company?
No, Qantas Airways Limited is an independent publicly traded company. The airline trades on the Australian Securities Exchange under ticker QAN and operates without any parent organization. Foreign ownership is restricted to 49% under the Qantas Sale Act 1992 to maintain Australian control of the flag carrier.

Is Qantas publicly traded?
Yes, Qantas is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol QAN. The company was privatized in 1993 through a public offering and has been listed for more than 30 years. Qantas is widely held by institutional investors, superannuation funds, and individual shareholders.

When was Qantas founded?
Qantas was founded in 1920 by Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, and Fergus McMaster in Winton, Queensland. The company's original name was Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, from which the acronym Qantas is derived. The airline began operations with aircraft that could carry mail and one passenger, serving remote areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Who is the CEO of Qantas?
Vanessa Hudson is the Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Airways Limited. She succeeded Alan Joyce in September 2023, becoming the first woman to lead the airline. Hudson joined Qantas in 1994 and held several senior roles including Chief Customer Officer and Group Executive for Qantas Airlines before being appointed CEO.

What is Project Sunrise?
Project Sunrise is Qantas's plan to operate non-stop commercial flights from Sydney to London and New York using Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The flights would be the longest regular commercial routes in the world, with flight times of approximately 19 hours to London and 18 hours to New York. The first Project Sunrise flights are expected to begin in 2026.

What is Qantas' revenue?
Qantas reported total revenue of AUD 21.9 billion for fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 30, 2025. Statutory net profit was AUD 1.25 billion, down from AUD 1.74 billion in FY2024. The decline was attributed to increased domestic competition, higher fuel costs, and investments in customer service improvements. The company announced an AUD 400 million share buyback as part of its capital return program.

Qantas was founded in 1920 by Hudson Fysh, Paul McGinness, and Fergus McMaster in Winton, Queensland, initially as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. The company began operations with aircraft that could carry mail and one passenger, serving remote areas of Queensland and the Northern Territory. The name Qantas is an acronym derived from the original company name.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Qantas expanded its routes and aircraft fleet. In 1934, Qantas merged with Britain's Imperial Airways to form Qantas Empire Airways, operating international services to Singapore. The airline played crucial roles during World War II, operating flights for the Australian military and maintaining essential air services across the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

The post-war period saw Qantas expand internationally, introducing services to London via the "Kangaroo Route" and other destinations across Asia and the Americas. The introduction of the Boeing 747 in 1971 revolutionized international travel for Qantas, enabling non-stop services to more distant destinations and significantly increasing capacity.

Qantas was privatized in 1993 through a public offering on the Australian Securities Exchange. The Qantas Sale Act 1992, passed prior to privatization, restricted foreign ownership to 49% and required the airline to remain under Australian control, with its principal operational facilities based in Australia.

In 2004, Qantas launched Jetstar as a low-cost carrier to compete with emerging budget airlines in the Australian and Asian markets. Jetstar has since become a significant part of the Qantas Group, operating domestic services in Australia and international services across Asia.

In 2013, Qantas and Emirates formed a strategic partnership, allowing Qantas to route its European services through Dubai and giving Emirates access to Qantas's domestic network. The partnership was renewed in 2018 and again in 2023, extending the alliance through 2029.

In September 2023, CEO Alan Joyce resigned ahead of his planned retirement date amid controversies including an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) lawsuit alleging Qantas sold tickets on flights it had already decided to cancel. Vanessa Hudson succeeded Joyce as CEO, becoming the first woman to lead Qantas. Hudson initiated a review of the company's customer service practices and announced investments in improving the passenger experience.

In 2025, Qantas continued preparations for Project Sunrise, its plan to operate non-stop commercial flights from Sydney to London and New York using Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The flights would be the longest regular commercial routes in the world, with flight times of approximately 19 hours to London and 18 hours to New York. The first Project Sunrise flights are expected to begin in 2026.

Qantas has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and has set science-based targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The company invests in sustainable aviation fuel, carbon offset programs, and fuel-efficient aircraft to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

The airline has achieved carbon neutrality for its domestic operations through its Fly Carbon Neutral program, which allows passengers to offset their flight emissions. Qantas has also invested in renewable energy projects and implemented waste reduction programs for inflight products and services.

Qantas maintains strict safety standards and operational protocols that exceed regulatory requirements. The company has one of the world's best safety records among full-service airlines and has never experienced a fatal jet aircraft accident. The airline invests continuously in safety technology, pilot training, and maintenance procedures.

The company supports remote and regional communities through essential air services and provides employment opportunities and training programs for Indigenous Australians. Qantas publishes an annual sustainability report as a first-party source. The company is not a Certified B Corporation.

Qantas has received recognition for its operational excellence, safety record, and customer service from independent awarding bodies.

• Skytrax Awards: Multiple awards including Best Airline in Australia/Pacific and recognition for inflight entertainment and cabin comfort
• Air Transport World Awards: Awards for operational excellence and environmental leadership in the airline industry
• Australian Aviation Awards: Recognition for safety excellence and operational performance
• Travel and Tourism Awards: Awards for contribution to Australian tourism industry development

Qantas has faced significant regulatory scrutiny and public criticism in recent years. In 2023, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) filed a lawsuit alleging Qantas sold tickets on more than 8,000 flights that it had already decided to cancel. The ACCC alleged the practice affected approximately 86,000 customers. In May 2024, the Federal Court found Qantas had engaged in misleading conduct by selling tickets on cancelled flights. The court ordered Qantas to pay AUD 100 million in penalties, a reduction from the AUD 250 million initially sought by the ACCC.

The controversy surrounding the ACCC lawsuit contributed to the early departure of CEO Alan Joyce in September 2023, ahead of his planned November 2023 retirement. Joyce's tenure, which began in 2008, was marked by strong financial performance but also by criticism of the airline's customer service standards and competitive practices.

A Senate inquiry into the Australian aviation market in 2023 examined Qantas's market dominance and its relationship with government. The inquiry raised questions about slot allocation at Sydney Airport, the effectiveness of competition policy, and the impact of the Qantas Sale Act's foreign ownership restrictions on market dynamics. The inquiry also scrutinized government decisions regarding Qatar Airways' application for additional flights to Australia.

Labor relations have been a recurring source of controversy. Qantas faced industrial disputes over working conditions, wages, and job security, particularly following the company's decision to outsource ground handling operations in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Court ruled in 2021 that the outsourcing was illegal, and Qantas was ordered to compensate affected workers. The company appealed the decision but ultimately reached a settlement with the Transport Workers Union in 2023.

The company has also faced questions about its environmental impact and the pace of its sustainability initiatives. Environmental advocates have called for more aggressive emissions reduction targets and greater investment in sustainable aviation fuel.