Leslie Massey
Australia has a rich history of aviation, with the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) being the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I. The country's aviation industry has produced pioneers such as Lawrence Hargrave, Harry Hawker, Bert Hinkler, and Charles Kingsford Smith. Qantas, Australia's favourite airline, began international passenger flights in 1935 and has since expanded its routes globally. The Two Airlines Policy, which restricted inter-capital services to two major domestic carriers, was a significant factor in shaping Australia's aviation market. Today, Qantas continues to be a prominent airline, offering all-inclusive services and a safe, positive environment for travellers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airlines | Qantas, Bonza, Australian National Airways (ANA), Imperial Airways, Jetstar, Alliance Airlines, Air North |
| Flights | Kangaroo Route, Southern Cross Route, Wallaby Route |
| Destinations | Brisbane, Darwin, Singapore, London, Sydney, San Francisco, Vancouver, Fiji, Canton Island, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Perth, New Zealand, Africa, North America |
| Events | Vivid Sydney, Dawn Service, Last Post Ceremony |
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What You'll Learn
Australian aviation history
The history of aviation in Australia traces back to the 1780s, when European "dreamers and experimenters" influenced the country's first balloonists: Dean, Gale, and L'Estrange. In the early 20th century, aviation in Australia was characterised by biplanes, box kites, and hydroplanes, with airmail becoming a regular service between major cities. During this period, several aviators with imported flying machines competed to make the first powered flight in Australia. While the first controlled flight is credited to escapologist Harry Houdini in 1910, the first Australian-made aircraft was designed and built by John Duigan, who completed a 7-metre 'hop' in Victoria in 1910.
In the following years, Australian aviation continued to advance, with Ross and Keith Smith making the first flight between England and Australia in 1919. By the 1930s, Australia had become one of the world's leading centres of aviation, ranking sixth in the world for scheduled air mileage and boasting 16 airlines. During this time, Qantas, one of Australia's well-known airlines, was formed through a partnership with Britain's Imperial Airways, creating Qantas Empire Airways Limited (QEA) in 1934. QEA commenced operations within Australia and later expanded internationally, flying from Darwin to Singapore in 1935.
However, the outbreak of World War II significantly impacted civil aviation in Australia, with the Qantas fleet being taken over by the Australian government for war service. By the end of the war, only a handful of domestic airlines remained, including Australian National Airways (ANA), which had a virtual monopoly on major routes. In the post-war era, Reg Ansett, who founded Ansett Airlines in 1935, faced challenges in re-establishing his domestic routes, utilising surplus aircraft like the Douglas DC-3.
The Menzies Government's "Two Airlines Policy" in 1952 aimed to ensure the viability of two major airlines: the government-owned TAA and the privately-owned ANA. This policy restricted competition in the Australian aviation market, leading to similar operating conditions between the two carriers. Deregulation of aviation began in the late 1980s, with Trans-Australia Airlines being renamed Australian Airlines in 1986 and eventually merging with Qantas in 1992. Qantas underwent privatisation between 1993 and 1997, and the Australian government also initiated the privatisation of airports in the 1990s. Virgin Australia, launched as Virgin Blue in 2000, filled the gap left by the collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001 and emerged as a significant competitor to Qantas.
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Qantas and other airlines
Qantas is Australia's favourite airline, offering an all-inclusive service with entertainment, refreshments, and checked baggage on every flight. Qantas was founded in 1920 in Winton, Queensland, as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. The airline's first aircraft was an Avro 504K. Qantas has since expanded and now operates Australia's largest premium full-service domestic airline, with flights to over 60 destinations across Australia, including all capital cities, large metropolitan areas, and regional hubs. Qantas also offers international flights to New Zealand and other destinations.
Qantas has a number of subsidiaries and owns several other airlines, including Jetstar, a low-cost airline that operates both internationally and domestically within Australia and New Zealand. Qantas holds stakes in other Jetstar-branded airlines in Asia, as well as Alliance Airlines and Fiji Airways. Qantas has also co-founded the Oneworld alliance with several other airlines, including American Airlines and British Airways.
In addition to its subsidiaries and partnerships, Qantas has a frequent-flyer program with over 16.4 million members as of June 2024, offering rewards for customer loyalty. Qantas also provides exclusive deals on tours and activities across Australia for its customers.
Other airlines in Australia include Australian National Airways (ANA), which was established in 1936 and operated until the 1950s, when it was acquired by Ansett Airways. During World War II, civil aviation was sacrificed for military needs, and many airlines were affected. By the end of the war, only nine domestic airlines remained in Australia.
Today, Australia has a competitive aviation market, with various airlines offering domestic and international flights. Virgin Australia, for example, entered the domestic market in 2000 as a discount airline, and Qantas responded by creating the budget airline Jetstar in 2001.
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Australian airports
Australia has more than 600 international, domestic, and private airports. Sydney Airport, located about 10 kilometres south of the city, is the largest Australian airport and a primary hub for Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar airlines. It has three large terminals, with a runway separating the international terminal from the other two. Melbourne Airport, known locally as Tullamarine Airport, is the second busiest airport in Australia and is located about 20 kilometres northwest of the city centre. Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, and Tigerair all offer regular flights from and to Melbourne Airport. Brisbane Airport, located in the Southeast Queensland region, is another major airport in Australia. It handles dozens of international flights each day, many of them from low-cost airlines like Jetstar and Tigerair. The airport has two passenger terminals, both with multiple levels, making it a large airport in terms of size.
Cairns Airport, located in the northeastern corner of Australia, is the seventh busiest airport in the country. It serves as a hub for Jetstar and Skytrans Airlines and is located about 7 kilometres from the Cairns business district. Canberra Airport, located in the country's capital, serves the surrounding locations in the Australian Capital Territory. The airport mainly focuses on domestic flights to major Australian cities but also offers international flights via Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Hobart Airport is the main airport in Tasmania, Australia's island state. Launceston Airport is the second biggest airport in Tasmania and is located 15 kilometres south of Launceston. Jetstar, Virgin, and Sharp Airlines all offer daily flights. Townsville Airport, also known as Garbutt Airport, is a regional airport located 7 kilometres west of the city. QantasLink and Regional Express offer the most daily flights.
Historically, Australia has been one of the world's leading centres of aviation. Before World War II, with a tiny population of about seven million, Australia ranked sixth in the world for scheduled air mileage, had 16 airlines, and was growing at twice the world average. Qantas, Australia's favourite airline, began international passenger flights in May 1935, and in 1948, it operated the first commercial flight from Australia to Africa, known as the Wallaby Route. In 1954, Qantas completed the first flight from Australia to North America, connecting Sydney with San Francisco and Vancouver. In 1982, a non-stop flight between Los Angeles and Sydney was first operated by Pan Am. A non-stop flight between Australia and Europe was eventually completed in March 2018, from Perth to London.
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Australian Flying Corps
The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army responsible for operating aircraft during World War I. It was the forerunner of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The AFC was established in 1912, though it did not begin flight training until 1914. In 1911, at the Imperial Conference held in London, it was decided that aviation should be developed by the national armed forces of the British Empire. Australia was the only dominion of the British Empire to form a flying corps during World War I. The Australian Army began advertising for pilots and mechanics in 1911, and the first squadron was officially raised in 1912.
The government officially announced the formation of the Central Flying School (CFS) and the "Australian Aviation Corps" on 7 March 1913. The first mention of the "Australian Flying Corps" appears in Military Orders of 1914. The AFC's first complete flying unit, No. 1 Squadron, left Australia for the Middle East in March 1916. By late 1917, three more squadrons (Nos 2, 3, and 4) had been formed to fight in France. A further four training squadrons based in England formed the Australian Training Wing to provide pilots for the Western Front.
The AFC saw action in Mesopotamia (now Iraq), Palestine, Egypt, and France. Australian airmen flew older aircraft over the Egyptian and Mesopotamian deserts and undertook unarmed reconnaissance operations before undertaking light bombing operations. The AFC played a role in the final Allied offensive that brought an end to the war – the Hundred Days Offensive. During their time along the Western Front, the two fighter squadrons (No. 2 and 4) accounted for 384 German aircraft. The AFC was disbanded in 1919 and temporarily replaced by the Australian Air Corps.
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Australian civil aviation
CASA's primary function is to conduct the safety regulation of civil air operations within Australia and the operation of Australian aircraft overseas. It is also tasked with providing comprehensive safety education and training programs, cooperating with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and administering certain features of Part IVA of the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959. The Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 provide the framework for general regulatory controls for the safety of air navigation.
In addition to its regulatory and safety roles, CASA is responsible for licensing pilots, ground crew, aircraft, and airfield operators. The authority also enforces safety requirements under the Commonwealth Civil Aviation Act 1988 and the Air Navigation Act 1920, ensuring that civil aviation operations are conducted in a manner that protects the environment.
CASA invites pilots and aviation organisations across Australia to take the Aviation Safety Pledge, a voluntary commitment to actions that promote aviation safety. It also plays an active role in promoting maintenance engineering and raising awareness about drone safety rules.
Prior to the establishment of CASA, the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was the Australian government department responsible for civil aviation matters from November 1938 to November 1973. The DCA was headed by a Director-General and was responsible to the Minister for Civil Aviation.
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Frequently asked questions
Qantas, Australian National Airways (ANA), and Bonza are some of the well-known Australian airlines.
The Australian Flying Corps (AFC) was the branch of the Australian Army that operated aircraft during World War I and later became the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The AFC was established in 1912, and in 1914, it began flight training.
Australia has been a leading centre of aviation. With a small population, it has produced many prominent aviation pioneers, including Lawrence Hargrave, Harry Hawker, and Bert Hinkler. Qantas, an Australian airline, began international passenger flights in May 1935 and completed the first commercial flight from Australia to Africa in 1948, known as the Wallaby Route.
