(17 April 2025) Qantas, Australia’s national carrier, is today celebrating 90 years of operations to the Lion City. On 17 April 1935, a Qantas de Havilland DH86 aircraft set off from Brisbane carrying just two passengers bound for Singapore. The flight took three and a half days with 16 stops along the way before arriving at Seletar Airport. 

Singapore was the starting point of Qantas’ international journey, and 90 years on, it remains a key part of the airline’s network. Almost a century later, Singapore is the airline’s largest hub outside of Australia, with more than 150 flights per week to connecting the Lion City to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin, as well as its flagship QF1 A380 service to London.

Since its first flight to Singapore in 1935, Qantas International has carried more than 273 million customers across its international network, which now spans 56 routes to 34 destinations in 25 countries around the world.

Qantas Historic Photos

To mark the occasion, Qantas is giving a unique look at its history by unveiling a collection of historical content from its official archives, providing a fascinating snapshot of Qantas’ inaugural operations to Singapore, as well as the aviation industry over the past 90 years.

The collection includes a photo taken in May 1935 of members of the Nanyang Students Society prior to boarding a scenic Qantas flight around Singapore, a ticket from Singapore to Brisbane dated June 1935, the Qantas check in desk at Raffles Singapore, as well as a Qantas DH86 aircraft parked in front of the passenger terminal at Kallang Airport, which still stands today.  

Australia in the Sky

In celebration of the anniversary, Qantas has today unveiled ‘Australia In The Sky’ – its latest brand campaign in Singapore to promote the carrier’s in-flight experience, food and beverage offerings, and unique Australian service. This includes a ‘takeover’ at People’s Park Centre, with a 3D video featuring turtles popping out above one of Singapore’s busiest intersections for foot and vehicular traffic.

Qantas will also release three limited edition amenity kits for Business customers featuring art from Qantas’ historic archives. The amenity kits will roll out across the Qantas network in the coming months.

Mr Nick McGlynn, Qantas Executive Vice President Asia stated “It is incredible to think that the Flying Kangaroo has been here in Singapore for over nine decades, launching operations before the start of World War Two. 

“As a 104-year-old airline and Australia’s national carrier, we have a rich history of operations around the globe, but there is nowhere around the world we have served longer than  Singapore.

“From just two passengers on the inaugural service in 1935, to the thousands of passengers we now fly every day to and from the Lion City, the story of Qantas in Singapore represents the incredible development of the aviation industry.

“With over 100 flights per week into and out of Changi, Singapore is more important to Qantas than ever and is now our largest international operation outside of Australia.

“We are proud of the role we have played in the history of aviation here in the Lion City, and look forward to serving Singaporeans for many years to come, Mr McGylynn stated.”

ORDER HERE:  fcowanmedia@gmail.com : Or go to Amazon: The Orange Sofa: Unicorn Eyes: Walking Home: Singapore Circuit Breaker.  Zero Visibility - US$9.00.