Trans Australia Airlines (TAA), renamed Australian Airlines in 1986, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its merger with Qantas in September 1992. As a result of the "COBRA" project, the entire airline was rebranded Qantas about a year later with tickets stating in small print "Australian Airlines Limited trading as Qantas Airways Limited" until the adoption of a single Air Operator Certificate a few years later. At that point, the entire airline was officially renamed "Qantas Airways Limited" continuing the name and livery of the parent company with the only change being the change of by-line from "The Spirit of Australia" to "The Australian Airline" under the window line with the existing "Qantas" title appearing above.
A Trans-Australia Airlines Skymaster
A TAA Douglas DC-3 at Brisbane Airport, early 1970s
A Fokker Friendship Series 100 at Essendon Airport, 1970
A TAA Douglas DC-9-31 at Essendon Airport in 1971, wearing the 1964-1969 Whispering T-Jet colour scheme used exclusively on DC-9s and Boeing 727s
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. It is the largest airline by fleet size, international flights, and international destinations in Australia and Oceania. Qantas is the world's third-oldest airline by foundation date and the oldest airline in the English-speaking world — being founded in November 1920. Qantas is a founding member of the Oneworld airline alliance.
The original QANTAS office in Longreach, Queensland, 1921
QANTAS Avro 504K Dyak, 1921
Qantas Empire Airways Short Empire flying boats at Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour, 1939
Qantas Boeing 707, Heathrow airport, London, 1969