Formed in 1920, the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Serivces Ltd (QANTAS) has been Australia's national carrier for almost a century. Since then, the airline has experienced many highs and lows but still remains one of Australia's most significant icons.
1992 - Qantas Sale Act put into place when the airline was privatised. The Act prohibits Qantas from being more than 49 per cent foreign-owned, with further restrictions of foreign airline ownership at 35 per cent, and one single foreign shareholder ownership at 25 per cent.
1993 - The Australian government sold a 25 per cent share of the airline to British Airways as a first step towards privatisation.
1995 - In June there was a public float of the remaining 75 per cent of Qantas. The float closed in late July and Qantas shares traded on the Australian Stock Exchange from July 31.
2002 - Qantas launched new international subsidiary airline under the name of 'Australian Airlines'.
2004 - Qantas lauunched domestic low cost carrier 'Jetstar'.
2006 - Qantas subsidiary 'Australian Airlines' ceased operation.
October 2008 - A Qantas flight from Singapore to Perth plunged 150 feet after one of three airspeed sensors malfunctioned.
August 2010 - A jet engine failed on a Qantas Boeing 747 after take-off from San Fransisco forcing an emergency landing.
June 2011 - CEO Alan Joyce announced plans of a restructure in Asia, prompting the first industrial action by trade unions in 45 years leading to an unprecedented grounding of its entire fleet. The move would come with 1000 job cuts in Australia.
July 2012 - Company split its domestic and international operations into two separate businesses from July 1.
August 2012 - Qantas announced 2800 job cuts in a bid to save $300 million a year.
August 2012 - Qantas sacked another 500 maintenance engineers.
November 2012 - Qantas cut ties with Tourism Australia after a public scuffle between CEO Alan Joyce and TA chairman and former Qantas boss Geoff Dixon. A deal between TA and Virgin quickly followed.
January 2013 - Qantas fell to 13th on the Safety Index.
November 2013 - Qantas announced the closure of the Avalon heavy maintenance facility near Geelong in Victoria, resulting in the loss of 300 jobs.
January 2014 - General Peter Cosgrove, AC, MC stepped down from his position as a Non-Executive Director of Qantas, leaving the position unfilled.
February 2014 - Qantas is set to axe 5000 jobs and sell its Melbourne Airport Terminal after reporting a half-year loss of $300 million.
(Source: Qantas, ASX)
