1. Retro Roo II: Qantas then and now
1959 – 2015
Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901 | Further information and media releases can be found at the Qantas website: qantasnewsroom.com.au
Aircraft
Qantas flew the first passenger jet
services across the Pacific Ocean
when the inaugural Boeing 707 flight
departed Sydney on 29 July 1959 for
San Francisco. Fuel stops were made
at Nadi and Honolulu. The Boeing 707
revolutionised air travel throughout
the world and Qantas was no exception
with travel times from Sydney to
London on the Kangaroo Route cut from
50 flying hours to just 27 flying hours.
In 1959, Qantas had 37 aircraft with six
types in its fleet including seven new
Boeing 707-138 jets.
In 2015, Qantas has 207 aircraft with
nine types in its fleet.
Uniforms
Qantas also introduced a new uniform
in 1959 to reflect the jet era. The ‘jungle
green’ design was also a major change as
it moved away from the previous military-
look to reflect a new subtle fashionable
look with a soft green terylene fabric
with matching overcoat. Today our crew
wear uniforms designed by Paris-based
Australian designer Martin Grant.
Pilots
1959: 302 pilots were employed by Qantas.
2015: Qantas currently employs 3,287 pilots.
People
1959: Qantas had 6,737 employees.
2015: There are more than 28,000 people
working for Qantas.
Passengers Carried
1959: 201,051
2015: More than 49 million per year.
Network
1959: 33 destinations in five continents.
2015: 84 destinations in 15 countries and
six continents.
Fares
In 1959 a Sydney to London airfare cost
about 30 weeks average weekly earnings.
Today it costs about 2 weeks average
weekly earnings for an economy airfare
from Australia to London.

2. Retro Roo II: Qantas then and now
1959 – 2015
Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901 | Further information and media releases can be found at the Qantas website: qantasnewsroom.com.au
Food
In 1959, Qantas Boeing 707-138 First
passengers could choose from two soups,
two hot main courses or a cold buffet and
two desserts.
In 2015, Qantas Business passengers are
offered six menu variations and a total of
220 meal options.
Inflight Entertainment
In 1959, the Qantas Boeing 707-138
offered books and magazines for inflight
entertainment.
In 2015, Qantas offers a suite of inflight
entertainment options including over
500 hours of movies and TV shows,
digital downloading of newspapers and
magazines and bring your own device for
content streaming.
Interiors
The new 1959 jet livery and interior was
developed by Qantas in association with
the renowned US design firm of Walter
Dorwin Teague. The interior was designed
to reflect Australian colours with turquoise,
pastel blues and persimmon used on the
passenger seats, offset by black and white
trim. The ‘Clad-Rex’ cabin side panels were
finished with screen-printed designs of
Australian wild flowers including wattles
and bottlebrush. Today our aircraft
interiors are by award-winning Australian
designer Marc Newson.
Size
In 1959, a Qantas Boeing 707-138 could
carry 90 First and Tourist passengers.
The 2015 Qantas Retro Roo 2 Boeing
737-800 carries 168 Business and
Economy passengers.
Qantas’ largest aircraft is the A380 which
can carry 484 passengers.
Aircraft Cost
1959: The cost of a brand new Boeing
707-138 was US$5,150,000 equivilent to
US$41,800,000 in today’s dollars.
2015: The list price of a new Boeing 737-800
is US$96,000,000.
Cabins
In 1959, the Qantas Boeing 707-138
offered two cabin experiences, First
and Tourist.
In 2015, Qantas International cabin
options are First (A380) Business,
Premium Economy and Economy.
VIP Passengers
Among the celebrities flying Qantas in
1959 were Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner
and Fred Astaire who were filming ‘On
the Beach’ in Melbourne.
In 2015, Hollywood stars continue to fly
with Qantas including Angelina Jolie,
Hugh Jackman, Drew Barrymore and
Cate Blanchett.