Qantas is the airline famous for its kangaroo symbol and the nickname “The Flying Kangaroo.”
Qantas was founded in 1920 in Queensland, Australia, originally under the name Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. The word Qantas is an acronym formed from that original name. It began with regional and mail services before developing into Australia’s major international carrier.
The kangaroo became associated with Qantas through the airline’s Australian identity and its long-distance international routes. A winged kangaroo emblem appeared in the 1940s, and the symbol has been redesigned several times while remaining central to the brand.
Qantas is sometimes confused with Air New Zealand, whose koru-inspired branding reflects Māori culture, or with Singapore Airlines, whose logo uses a stylized bird. The kangaroo association is specifically linked to Qantas and is one of the best-known airline symbols in the world.