Australian Airlines
A former Australian leisure airline owned by Qantas, Australian Airlines operated scheduled international services to destinations across Asia and the Pacific before closing in 2006.
About Australian Airlines
Australian Airlines was established by Qantas in 2001 and began flying in 2002 as a wholly owned leisure subsidiary. It revived the name of an earlier Australian domestic carrier that had been absorbed into Qantas, but operated with a distinct orange branding and an international holiday-market focus. The airline ceased operations in 2006, when its services were incorporated into the wider Qantas network.
Cairns was Australian Airlines' principal operating base, positioning the carrier to serve tourism markets between northern Australia, Japan and other parts of Asia. It also operated from Sydney and other Australian gateways at various stages. Its network included leisure destinations such as Bali and Phuket, alongside major Asian cities including Hong Kong, Singapore, Nagoya and Osaka. These are historical routes; Australian Airlines no longer sells or operates flights.
The carrier used Boeing 767-300ER wide-body aircraft drawn from the broader Qantas fleet. Its cabins were configured primarily for leisure travel, with service standards and seating arrangements evolving during its short operating life. Catering and checked baggage were generally part of the full-service proposition, although historical allowances should not be treated as current Qantas policy. Travellers cannot book an Australian Airlines cabin today.
Australian Airlines was not an independent member of Oneworld, despite being owned by alliance member Qantas. Eligible passengers could use the Qantas Frequent Flyer programme under the arrangements applying to particular services and fares. Because the airline has been inactive since 2006, current loyalty earning and redemption rules relate to Qantas and its active partners rather than flights carrying the Australian Airlines brand.
The airline's main strength was its direct access to leisure markets that were strategically important to Australian tourism, particularly through Cairns. Its relatively small network and dependence on holiday demand also limited its scale and flexibility. The supplied identifiers AO and VNV, and the legal name Avianova, appear inconsistent with the documented Australian Airlines operation, which used different aviation identifiers; travellers should therefore treat listings combining those details as conflated historical records.
Good to know
Flying with Australian Airlines — what to expect
Airline No Longer Operating
Australian Airlines ceased flying in 2006, and no current tickets are sold under the brand. Search results using its name may refer to historical services or similarly named companies.
Check Airline Identifiers
The supplied AO and VNV codes do not match the best-documented identifiers for the Qantas-owned Australian Airlines. Confirm the operating carrier carefully when reviewing archived schedules or booking records.
Historical Baggage Rules
Baggage allowances from former Australian Airlines services are no longer applicable. For a present-day Qantas journey, check the allowance shown on the ticket and the current Qantas baggage rules.
Qantas Loyalty Links
Australian Airlines was owned by Qantas, and eligible historical flights could be associated with Qantas Frequent Flyer. Current earning and redemption depend on the rules for Qantas and its active partners.
Leisure-Focused Network
The carrier concentrated on holiday routes between Australia and Asia, with Cairns playing a particularly important role. Many former markets are now served by other airlines or under different Qantas Group brands.
Route network
Popular routes operated by Australian Airlines
Notable destinations on Australian Airlines's network.
AOCairnsdirectAOSydneydirectAOBrisbanedirectAOGold CoastdirectAODenpasardirectAOPhuketdirectAOSingaporedirectAOHong KongdirectAOOsakadirectAONagoyadirectAOFukuokadirectAOSapporodirectDestination list is indicative of Australian Airlines's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
More from Australia
Other airlines based in Australia
FAQ
Australian Airlines — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Australian Airlines was principally based at Cairns Airport, although it also operated services from Sydney and other Australian gateways. The airline ceased operations in 2006.
- Australian Airlines no longer flies. Its historical network linked Australia with leisure and major-city destinations in Asia and the Pacific, including Bali, Phuket, Singapore, Hong Kong and several Japanese cities.
- It currently serves no destinations because operations ended in 2006. The size of its historical network varied by season and operating period, so a single present-day destination count would be misleading.
- Australian Airlines has no current carry-on allowance because it is no longer operating. Travellers flying with Qantas or another successor operator should follow the cabin-baggage limits stated on their current ticket.
- Australian Airlines tickets are no longer available. For comparable Australia-to-Asia leisure routes, fares are often lower outside school holidays and other peak travel periods, particularly when booked with flexible dates.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts and never adds a fee. Because Australian Airlines is defunct, results would relate to active carriers serving comparable routes rather than flights operated by Australian Airlines.
- There is no current longest route because the airline ceased operations in 2006. Its longer historical services connected Australia with northern Asian markets, including Japan, but schedules changed during its operating life.
- No Australian Airlines flights depart today. Historically, Cairns was its principal base, while Sydney and other Australian airports also supported parts of its international leisure network.