HTTP/1.1 200 OKServer: nginxContent-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8X-Powered-By: WordPress VIP Host-Header: a9130478a60e5f9135f765b23f26593bX-Content-Type-Options: nosniffX-XSS-Protection: 1x-rq: syd3 177 253 80Cache-Control: must-revalidate, max-age=269Expires: Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:58:15 GMTDate: Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:53:46 GMTTransfer-Encoding:  chunkedConnection: keep-aliveConnection: Transfer-EncodingSet-Cookie: nk=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d; expires=Wed, 22-Apr-2026 20:53:46 GMT; domain=.theaustralian.com.au; secure; SameSite=NoneSet-Cookie: theAusShortlist=DELETEME; expires=Thu, 01-Aug-2024 12:40:38 GMT; secure; HttpOnly; SameSite=StrictStrict-Transport-Security: max-age=600 ; includeSubDomainsContent-Security-Policy-Report-Only: frame-ancestors 'self'; report-uri https://www.theaustralian.com.au/csp-reportsContent-Security-Policy: block-all-mixed-content; style-src https: 'unsafe-inline'; script-src https: blob: 'unsafe-inline' 'unsafe-eval'; img-src https: data:; frame-src https:;BlaizeHappened: trueX-ARRRG5: /blaize/decision-engine?path=https%3a%2f%2fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2fweb-stories%2ffree%2fthe-australian%2fa-look-back-on-the-golden-age-of-air-travel%3fnk%3dd4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26d-1711775422&blaizehost=v4-news-au-theaustralian.cdn.zephr.com&content_id=&session=d4fd537ff29480321d64cc0d8815e26dX-ARRRG4: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/X-PathQS: TRUEVary: User-AgentAkamai-GRN: 0.4e4e6168.1745355226.8246a6c
Words: Imogen ReidProducer: Louise Starkey
A look back on the golden age of air travel
With glamorous air hostesses, flowing drinks, in-flight shaving bars and the novelty of plane food, flying was the epitome of sophistication during the 1950s and 60s.
Here, photos from deep within Qantas' archive show just how much has changed since the airline first took to the sky.
Burgeoning from an outback airstrip in the 1920s into one of the world's leading airlines, Qantas was started by entrepreneurs Hudson Fysh, Paul McGuinness and Fergus McMaster in Western Queensland as a mail service for farmers.
From maintaining air links during the Second World War to assisting in evacuation efforts in the wake of natural disasters, the carrier has undergone numerous iterations during its century-long history.
The first passenger on the quickly growing airline was Alexander Kennedy, then aged 84, in November 1922, on a flight from Charleville to Cloncurry.
Fashion on flights soon followed, with air hostesses making a statement in the 1940s with tailored jumpsuits with tapered waists.
The first inflight beds were introduced that same decade, in the Avro Lancastrian aircraft.
The 1950s saw families and businessmen putting on their best Sunday dress to fly.
The airline attracted royalty in 1954, with newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II flying with Qantas during her tour of the country.
Qantas added a pop of colour and cropped the uniforms of air hostesses in the 1960s, with first-class dinner services being introduced and the airline catering to stars including The Beatles.
Hostess uniforms received an Italian twist during the 1970s and ’80s, with Emilio Pucci designing eye-catching attire that symbolised the sense of freedom and optimism of the time.
Sponsoring ABBA's 1977 Australian tour, Qantas gifted the Swedish pop group with white bomber jackets, which are now on display at the ABBA The Museum in Stockholm.
Inflight shave bars for men were another notable addition to Qantas flights, as well as lounge areas for first-class passengers.
Swipe up to take a deeper look at how much has changed since Qantas first took to the sky.
																															

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/web-stories/free/the-australian/a-look-back-on-the-golden-age-of-air-travel