Qantas has been flying internationally for 90 years - take a look back at how it all started
Qantas is today celebrating 90 years of international flying, marking a major milestone in the evolution of the aviation industry.
The airline has spent almost a century connecting Australia with the world, after the first-ever international flight from Brisbane to Singapore took off in 1935.
Since then, more than 273 million customers have flown across the Qantas international network which now spans 56 routes to 34 destinations in 25 countries around the world.
Take a look back at how things began 90 years ago.
Qantas operated 10-passenger DH86 aircraft to and from Singapore where passengers connected with Imperial Airways flights to India, the Middle East and Europe.
Flights took 3.5 days each way with night stops at Cloncurry, Darwin and Rambang.
No cabin crew were carried on the first international services, instead the First Officer handed out drinks and sandwiches.
This ticket was issued to Qantas chairman and co-founder Fergus McMaster for travel from Singapore to Brisbane in June 1935.
In 1937, the new Kallang airport opened in Singapore.
It featured a modern art deco style terminal seen here behind a Qantas DH86 aircraft.
Qantas began flying from Sydney to Singapore in 1938 with six Empire flying boats with names beginning with 'C'.
The Inaugural Empire flying boat service from Rose Bay, Sydney (Sydney's first international airport) to Singapore took off on August 4, 1938. Passengers enjoyed full cabin service with hot meals.
On July 10, 1943, the first 'Double Sunrise' Catalina flight departs Perth for Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
This remains the longest scheduled passenger service in the world by elapsed time. It was also the longest nonstop flight by distance at the time and the only scheduled civilian wartime air link to Australia. Service later extended to Karachi.
Wartime passengers travelling the Indian Ocean on Qantas Catalina flying boats received special "Double Sunrise" certificate.
On June 17, 1944, Qantas began flying Liberator aircraft (converted bombers) between Perth and Ceylon.
They were the first Qantas aircraft to carry the flying kangaroo emblem.
