part of an experimental Australia-UK service. 1934 saw the formation of Qantas Empire Airways Limited, with Imperial Airways holding 50 per cent. The two airlines began regular Australia-UK services in December 1934, initially carrying only mail. A Qantas aircraft flew overseas for the first time in February 1935, when a DH86 operated the Brisbane-Singapore section of the service, and the first Qantas overseas passenger left Brisbane for Singapore in April 1935. Four-engine Shorts 'Empire' flying boats brought new levels of luxury and comfort to the Australia-UK service from July 1938.
WORLD WAR II During the Second World War, Qantas maintained vital air links, flew supply drops at treetop level in (Papua) New Guinea and established 'Double Sunrise' non-stop flights across the Indian Ocean with Catalina flying boats operating in radio silence. Bythe end of the war, Qantas engineers had serviced 298 aircraft, more than 2,800 aircraft engines and more than 24,300 aircraft instruments for the allied forces. Their reputation ensured that the label 'Overhauled by Qantas' was much sought after.
POSTWAR EXPANSION The Company expanded rapidly after the war. In 1947, the Australian Government purchased the shares held by Imperial Airways (which had become BOAC) plus all remaining shares. That year, Qantas took delivery of its first pressurised long-range Lockheed Constellation, which went into service on the ‘Kangaroo’ Route. Qantas operated its first Sydney-London flight in its own right in December 1947, leaving Australia on 1 December and landing in the UK on 5 December. Services to Japan began on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force, and in 1950, Qantas inaugurated its own commercial services to Japan. Hong Kong was added to the Qantas network in 1949 and South Africa in 1952.
USA AND THE WORLD Qantas began flying to San Francisco and Vancouver in May 1954. In 1956, the airline carried the Olympic flame from Athens to Darwin as part of its journey to the Melbourne Olympics. Round-the-world services operated by Super Constellations began on 14 January 1958. Qantas entered the jet age in 1959, taking delivery of the first