Qantas is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Speaking at a special event, CEO Alan Joyce remarked on the airline’s long history and that the airline has endured as a national carrier, with a focus on closing the distance domestically within Australia and internationally.
“Distance has always defined Australia. Between our cities and regional towns, and from the rest of the world. Qantas prided itself on closing that gap. Before COVID interrupted, we were working on non-stop flights from the east coast to New York and London – the last frontier of global aviation.
“For most of this year, it’s the distance between Melbourne and Sydney (or any of our capitals) that has been the challenge. Hard state borders for the first time in, coincidently enough, about 100 years.
“Now, as Australia opens up, we’re ready to fly again. And when people see the familiar kangaroo on the tail, it has another bit of history behind it.”
Speaking to the Financial Times newspaper, Joyce said that he expects the airline to stop burning through cash and restore seat capacity to at least half its pre-virus levels by Christmas. Joyce insists that the airline will emerge from the crisis ahead of its rivals thanks to how the country has handled the pandemic.
“We are very optimistic. When we open up borders we’re seeing this massive surge in pent up demand,” said Joyce.
“Qantas has survived for 100 years because it adapts it evolves, it changes its model when it has to, and it takes the necessary action,” said Joyce.
Sydney commemorated Qantas Airways' 100-year anniversary by lighting up its iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge as a larger-than-life birthday cake complete with illuminated candles that were blown out by a Qantas 787 as it did a low level overfly at 1,500 feet.
Almost 200 passengers, including 100 Qantas staff, were on board the 100-minute flight which was a special Centenary Scenic Flight to mark the airline's 100th year. The spectacular candle-blowing lights off moment was a surprise for not just those on the ground, but also those on board the flight which also took in showcased Sydney Harbour, HARS Aviation Museum in Shellharbour and Rose Bay – where Qantas Flying Boats were used in the 1930s and '40s.
Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer, Alan Joyce said that Qantas was honoured to receive such a special and spectacular Centenary birthday show from Sydney".
"Qantas aircraft have been flying over Sydney Harbour Bridge for decades, so this was a spectacular way to mark our anniversary. It's been a tough year for tourism but as more domestic borders open up, we're ready to put more aircraft back in the air and bring people to see all that New South Wales has to offer," he said.