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{{For|the current fleet of [[Qantas]]|Qantas fleet}}
#REDIRECT [[Qantas fleet]] {{R from merge}}
[[File:Qantas Boeing 707 and Boeing 747-200 at Longreach's Qantas Founders Outback Museum.jpg|thumb|[[Boeing 707]] and [[Boeing 747]]-200 at Longreach's [[Qantas Founders Outback Museum]]]]
[[Qantas]] has had a varied fleet since the airline's inception. Following its foundation shortly after the end of the [[First World War]], the first aircraft to serve in the fleet was the [[Avro 504K]], a small biplane. Starting with a delivery of seven [[Boeing 707]] aircraft,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-jet-age/global/en |accessdate=2015-05-11 |title=Entering the Jet Age}}</ref> the airline's fleet entered the jet age in 1959.

==First aircraft==
[[File:Avro Dyack used by QANTAS ca. 1921.jpg|thumb|Avro Dyack, the first Qantas plane, ca.1921]]
Qantas' first aircraft was an [[Avro 504K]] (a replica of which can be seen at [[Sydney Airport]]'s Qantas Domestic Terminal 3 on departures level) with a 100-horsepower (74&nbsp;kW) water-cooled Sunbeam Dyak engine. By 1921 it also operated a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2E with a 90-horsepower (67&nbsp;kW) air-cooled engine.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}

Qantas inaugurated its three-day-long ''[[Short Empire]] Flying Boat'' service between [[Rose Bay, New South Wales|Rose Bay]] and [[Kallang Airport|Singapore-Kallang Airport]] in the late 1930s. The run had stopovers in [[Townsville]], [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] and [[Surabaya]]. The service was replaced in 1943 by a long-range service, the ''Catalina flying boat''.<ref name="Qantas flying boats: Was air travel more fun in the 1930s?" />

==World War II==
During [[World War II]], Qantas operated flying boats on the Australia-England route in cooperation with [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC). After Italy entered the war in June 1940, this became the [[Horseshoe Route]] between Sydney and [[Durban International Airport|Durban]] in South Africa with the South Africa - UK stage being by sea. This service was a vital line of communication between Australia and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-world-at-war/global/en |title=World at War |publisher=Qantas.com.au |date=4 February 1942 |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref>

In June 1943 Qantas employed 5 [[Consolidated PBY Catalina]] flying boats—obtained under [[Lend-Lease]] through the [[Air Ministry|British Air Ministry]]—to establish a route between [[Perth]] in Australia and [[Colombo]] in [[Sri Lanka]] (then Ceylon) over the [[Indian Ocean]]. Becoming known as [[The Double Sunrise]], this route remains the longest non-stop commercial flight ever undertaken, requiring between 27 and 32 hours to complete (depending on winds). Over the next two years, 271 crossings took place.<ref name="Qantas_Catalinas">{{cite web |url=https://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/history-catalinas/global/en |title=The Catalinas |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Qantas.com |publisher=[[Qantas]] |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="flight1950">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Thirty Years of Qantas |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1950/1950%20-%201946.html |magazine=[[Flight International|Flight]] |location=[[London]] |date=16 November 1950 |volume=LVIII |issue=2182 |access-date=6 April 2018 }}</ref>

Starting in June 1944, Qantas augmented the Catalinas with the first of two converted Consolidated Liberator [[bomber]]s, which could complete the Australia–Ceylon journey in substantially less time with a much larger payload. The route was named ''[[Kangaroo Route]]'' and marked the first time that Qantas' now-famous kangaroo logo was used; passengers received a certificate proclaiming them as members of ''The Order of the Longest Hop''.<ref name="flight1950"/>

In June 1945, [[Avro Lancastrian]]s were introduced on the Australia–England service, with the Liberators and Catalinas being shifted to other routes.<ref name="flight1950"/>

==Post War era==
In accordance with the Lend-Lease agreement, the five modified Catalinas used for Double Sunrise service were scuttled after the war. However, Qantas obtained seven former [[Royal Australian Air Force]] Catalinas, using them to serve outlying South Pacific islands. The last two Catalinas were retired in 1958.<ref name="Qantas_Catalinas"/>

After World War II Qantas modernised its fleet with [[Lockheed Constellation]] aircraft, commencing with six L-749 Constellations from 1947.<ref name="Lockheed Constellation - Australia">{{cite web | title =Lockheed Constellation - Australia | publisher =Aussie Airliners | url = http://www.aussieairliners.org/lockheed/connie.htm | accessdate = 2013-04-20}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2013}}</ref>

In 1949, [[Douglas DC-4|Douglas DC-4 Skymasters]] were obtained, replacing Lancastrians on some routes.<ref name="flight1950"/>

In 1950, Qantas introduced the first of five [[Short Sandringham]] [[flying boats]] which flew from the [[Rose Bay, New South Wales|Rose Bay]] flying boat base on [[Port Jackson|Sydney Harbour]] to destinations in [[New Caledonia]], [[New Hebrides]], [[Fiji]], [[New Guinea]] and [[Lord Howe Island]]. Two of these were purchased from [[TEAL]] and the other three were purchased from BOAC. These were in service through to 1955.<ref>{{cite web | title =Australian Short Flying Boat Register | publisher =Aussie Airliners | url = http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/shortfbregister.html | accessdate = 2013-04-20}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2013}}</ref>

From 1954, Qantas placed into service the first of sixteen L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft, which would remain in the fleet through to 1963.<ref name="Lockheed Constellation - Australia"/> By 1956 the airline was operating 34 propeller-driven aircraft. Qantas carried a record number of passengers to the [[1956 Summer Olympics]] in [[Melbourne]], and also carried the [[Olympic flame]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/l-1049/vh-eab2/vheab.html |title=VH-EAB L-1049 Constellation |publisher=Aussieairliners.org |accessdate=8 July 2011}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2013}}</ref> into the Southern Hemisphere for the first time on its longest ever trip, from [[Ellinikon International Airport|Athens]] to [[Darwin Airport|Darwin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-constellations/global/en |title=Constellations Span the World |publisher=Qantas.com.au |date=14 January 1958 |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref>

==Jet Age==
[[File:Boeing 707-338C VH-EBR Qantas FRA 01.07.72 edited-2.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 707]] at [[Frankfurt Airport]] in 1972]]
Qantas entered the Jet Age in July 1959 with [[Boeing 707]] services to the United States. The service was extended to [[Heathrow Airport|London]] via [[John F Kennedy International Airport|New York]]. Sydney to London services via [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport|Bombay]] began in October 1959.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-jet-age/global/en |title=Entering the Jet Age |publisher=Qantas.com.au |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref> With the certification of the [[turbofan]] engine, Qantas modified its existing 707–138 fleet with the turbofans, naming its Boeing 707 aircraft ''V-Jets'', from the Latin ''vannus'', meaning “fan” as commonly accepted, but really standing for “thing that blows against the grain”.<ref name="FI1964-50/54" />{{rp|50}} In total, Qantas took delivery of seven Boeing 707–138s, and a further six 707−138Bs.

From 7 November 1959 until 30 May 1963, Qantas operated six [[deHavilland Comet]]s, four being [[Aircraft lease#Wet lease|wet leased]] from BOAC. They were crewed by BOAC employees and featured Qantas titles on the fuselage in place of the BOAC titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/dh%20comet/austcometregister.htm |title=de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

Following this, Qantas placed in service twenty-two Boeing 707-338Cs, which replaced the Boeing 707-138Bs and provided for expansion of the fleet. These entered service in February 1965 and flew through until retirement in March 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-707q/707index.html |title=Australian Boeing 707 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

From 1971, Qantas operated the [[Boeing 747]]-238B,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/history-jumbo-jet/global/en |title=The Jumbo Jet |publisher=Qantas.com.au |date=1 August 1967 |accessdate=8 July 2011}}</ref> which strengthened its long haul fleet. When the Boeing 707s were retired in 1979, Qantas became the world's only all Boeing 747 operator.<ref name=AA0618>Long Has She Reigned ''[[Australian Aviation]]'' June 2018 page 62</ref> In 1981, two short body [[Boeing 747SP]]s entered the fleet for flights to [[Wellington Airport|Wellington]], and they were subsequently used on non-stop flights between Sydney and [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]].<ref>Qantas SP will mean 747 services to Wellington ''[[Freight & Container Transportation]]'' March 1980 page 27</ref><ref name="Australian Boeing 747 Register">{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-747/aust747index.html |title=Australian Boeing 747 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref>

In November 1984, Qantas commenced service with six Boeing 747-338s with an extended upper deck.<ref name="Australian Boeing 747 Register"/> From 1985, Qantas ceased being an all Boeing 747 operator when the first of seven [[Boeing 767]]-238ERs entered the fleet.<ref name=AA0618/> These were followed by the Boeing 767-300ERs, with the first example delivered in {{start date|1988|8}};<ref>{{cite news|title= Qantas enters final stage of 767 phase-out|first= Adrian|last= Schofield|work= [[Air Transport World]]|date= {{Date|2014-9-18}}|url= http://atwonline.com/airframes/qantas-enters-final-stage-767-phase-out|access-date= 27 December 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140921200139/http://atwonline.com/airframes/qantas-enters-final-stage-767-phase-out|archive-date= 21 September 2014|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref> seven additional Boeing 767-336ERs were leased and subsequently purchased from [[British Airways]] and entering service from August 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-767/767australia.htm |title=Australian Boeing 767 Register |accessdate=9 April 2013}}</ref> On its delivery flight in July 1989, [[City of Canberra (aircraft)|Qantas' first Boeing 747-400]] flew a record-breaking non-stop flight from London to Sydney in little more than 20 hours that stood until bettered by a [[Boeing 787]] in October 2019.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190819054318/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-17/30-years-since-qantas-top-secret-london-to-sydney-flight/11413346 30 years since Qantas' top-secret record-holding 747 flight from London to Sydney] ''[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]'' 17 August 2019</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200428102502/https://7news.com.au/travel/qantas-non-stop-london-sydney-flight-inside-the-monumental-19-hour-journey-c-559277 Qantas' non-stop London-Sydney flight: Inside the monumental 19 hour journey] ''[[Seven News]]'' 17 November 2019</ref> Qantas purchased a total of 60 Boeing 747s with the last delivered in 2003. Fifty-seven were purchased new and three second-hand, it operated a further five leased from other airlines at various stages.<ref name=AA0618/> The last six [[Boeing 747-400]]s were retired in 2020.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190330082833/https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-orders-more-dreamliners-sets-date-to-farewell-jumbos/ Qantas orders more Dreamliners, sets date to farewell Jumbos] Qantas 2 May 2018</ref>

In the early 1990s Qantas was one of eight major airlines working with [[Boeing]] on the design of the [[Boeing 777]]. Despite being part of the design group, Qantas ultimately never acquired any 777s. Several aviation commentators have criticised this decision, as the 777 appears to be a good fit for Qantas' requirements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/03/no-time-machine-to-change-qantas-fleet-order-joyce/ |title=No time machine to change Qantas fleet order – Joyce |publisher=Australian Aviation Magazine |date=6 March 2014 |accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref>{{acn|date=April 2016}} While the reasons have never been made public by Qantas, it is believed that various reasons contributed to the decision, such as a [[Civil Aviation Safety Authority]] restriction on [[ETOPS]]180 operations, errors made by Qantas in the forecasting of future fuel prices which made the 777 appear expensive to operate, and a desire to keep the number of types in the fleet to a minimum.{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}}

In 2008, Qantas took delivery of the first of 12 [[Airbus A380]]s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200429004350/https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2008/09/first-airbus-a380-delivered-to-qantas.html First Airbus A380 delivered to Qantas] Airbus 19 September 2008</ref>

==1970 fleet==
[[File:QANTAS Boeing 747SP, VH-EAA, Wellington, 1981 - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747SP]] at [[Wellington Airport]] in 1981]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Qantas Airways fleet in 1970<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200547.html|format= PDF|title= World airlines 1970 – Qantas Airways Ltd|journal=[[Flight International]]|pages= 497|date= {{date|1970-3-26}}|accessdate= {{date|2011-8-28}}}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightblue;"
!Aircraft
!Total
!Orders
!Notes
|-
|[[Concorde|BAC/Sud Concorde]]
|0
|0
|Four on option
|-
|[[Boeing 2707|Boeing SST]]
|0
|0
|Six on option
|-
|[[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-300]]<ref>{{cite book|title= JP Airline-Fleets, 1970-1977|edition= Jp, Zurich|author= F E Bucher, U Klee, B Drum }}</ref>
|21
|0
|
|-
|[[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200]]
|0
|4
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|2
|0
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-4]]
|2
|0
|
|-
|[[British Aerospace BAe 125|Hawker Siddeley HS 125]]
|2
|0
|Used for pilot training
|-
|[[Lockheed L-188 Electra]]
|1
|0
|
|-
|Total
|28
|4
|
|}

==Recent retirements==
[[File:Qantas Airbus A300B4-203 PER Wheatley.jpg|thumb|An [[Airbus A300]] at [[Perth Airport]] in the 1990s]]
[[File:Qantas Boeing 767-300; VH-OGS@SYD;31.07.2012 666id (7863496018).jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 767]] at [[Sydney Airport]] in 2012]]
[[File:Boeing 747-438ER ‘VH-OEE’ QANTAS (30651335401).jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-400ER]] at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK Airport]] in 2016]]

Qantas operated [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300B4]] aircraft after its acquisition of Australian Airlines. The airline also operated [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]], [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200]], [[Boeing 747SP]], [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-300]] and [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200ER]] aircraft.

In 2014, Qantas retired its fleet of [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]] aircraft, after the last scheduled service of the type on 23 February.<ref>{{cite news|title=End of an era as Qantas retires the 737 classic|publisher=Australian Aviation|date=24 February 2014|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/02/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-retires-the-737-classic/}}</ref>

Throughout 2014, Qantas's [[Boeing 767-300ER]] fleet was in the process of a phase-out with the last five operating commercial services operating on 27 December.<ref>[http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/12/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-farewells-the-767/ End of an era as Qantas farewells the 767] ''Australian Aviation'' 27 December 2014</ref> Four of them were sold to [[WestJet]].<ref>{{cite news|title= End of an era as Qantas farewells the 767|first1= Gerard|last1= Frawley|publisher= Australian Aviation|date= 27 December 2014|url= http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/12/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-farewells-the-767/|access-date= 3 January 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150904002304/http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/12/end-of-an-era-as-qantas-farewells-the-767/|archive-date= 4 September 2015|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref>

Qantas' oldest Boeing 747-400 (VH-OJA, ''[[City of Canberra (aircraft)|City of Canberra]]'') was retired on {{end date|2015|3|8|df=yes}} and flown to [[Shellharbour Airport]] in order to be donated to the Historical Aviation Restoration Society.<ref>{{cite news|title= PICTURES: Qantas’s first 747-400 makes final flight|first1= Ellis|last1= Taylor|location= [[Singapore]]|work= [[Flightglobal]]|date= {{Date|2015-3-9}}|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-qantass-first-747-400-makes-final-flight-409895/|access-date= 10 March 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150310104445/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-qantass-first-747-400-makes-final-flight-409895/|archive-date= 10 March 2015|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref>

On 13 October 2019, Qantas' final Boeing 747-400 (VH-OJU, ''Lord Howe Island'') was retired after operating QF99 from Sydney to Los Angeles. On 28 March 2020, Qantas operated its last commercial Boeing 747 flight from [[Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport|Santiago de Chile]] to Sydney.<ref>COVID vs Goliaths ''[[Airliner World]]'' June 2020 page 27</ref><ref>[https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-747-retirement Qantas retires entire Boeing 747 fleet] ''Executive Traveller'' 25 June 2020</ref>

The final Boeing 747-400ER in the fleet (VH-OEJ, ''Wunala'') departed Sydney on 22 July 2020 as flight number QF7474 doing a flyby of Sydney Harbour, CBD and northern and eastern suburbs beaches followed by a low level overfly of Shellharbour Airport in a final farewell to VH-OJA. On this flight Qantas traced their 'Flying Kangaroo' logo in the sky with its flight path.<ref>{{Cite web|title=QANTAS FAREWELLS "QUEEN OF THE SKIES"|url=https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-farewells-queen-of-the-skies/|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Qantas News Room|language=en}}</ref>.

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<!-- + -->
<ref name="FI1964-50/54">{{flatlist}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;50)|journal= [[Flight International]]|date= {{date|1964-7-9}}|pages= 50–54|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202027.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV2iGZsV|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;51)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202028.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV32cDKN|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;52)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202029.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV38WQot|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;53)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202030.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV3EzYSX|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
*{{allow wrap|{{cite journal|title= Airline profile – Qantas&nbsp;(page&nbsp;54)|journal= Flight International|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964%20-%202031.html|archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6EV3JXGge|archivedate= {{date|2013-2-17}}}}}}
{{endflatlist}}</ref>
<!-- + -->
<ref name="Qantas flying boats: Was air travel more fun in the 1930s?">{{cite news|title= Qantas flying boats: Was air travel more fun in the 1930s?|newspaper= [[news.com.au]]|date= {{Date|2013-8-10}}|url= http://www.news.com.au/travel/qantas-flying-boats-was-air-travel-more-fun-in-the-1930s/story-e6frfq7r-1226694806067|access-date= 5 February 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150205142348/http://www.news.com.au/travel/qantas-flying-boats-was-air-travel-more-fun-in-the-1930s/story-e6frfq7r-1226694806067|archive-date= 5 February 2015|url-status= dead}}&nbsp;</ref>
|2}}

==External links==
* {{official website|www.qantas.com|Qantas official website}}

{{Qantas Group|state=collapsed}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}

[[Category:Qantas]]
[[Category:Lists of aircraft by operator]]

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