Qantas is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its iconic flying kangaroo logo with a new B737 aircraft decked out in 1970s livery.
The "retro" design was unveiled over the weekend at an event at Boeing's headquarters in Everett, Washington.
Actor John Travolta, a Qantas ambassador and well-known aviation enthusiast, was present to witness the handover.
He said: "It's great to see a piece of Qantas history flying in the sky today. I have enjoyed many wonderful experiences with Qantas over the years, from getting my 747 wings to having my own 707 painted in the original 1960s Qantas livery.
"This is a great celebration of the brand's heritage and incredible reputation over the years."
The 1970s livery uses the winged kangaroo logo on the aircraft's tail; the wings were discarded in 1984 and the graphic evolved into its current form.
Qantas said the new B737 is to mark seven decades of the flying kangaroo, as the airline itself celebrates its 94 birthday.
Olivia Wirth, group executive for brand, marketing and corporate affairs, said: "For 70 years our logo has been a symbol of aviation innovation, but also a reminder that home is never far away.
"Qantas holds a special place in the Australian psyche, and we know for many of our customers this livery will inspire a fond trip down memory lane.
"It’s a bit of a time warp having a 1970s livery on one of our brand new B737 aircraft but it's the perfect way to highlight the years of experience behind the contemporary airline Qantas is today."
Last week, Qantas announced it will later this month introduce a new inflight dining option for passengers in long-haul economy (see news, November 12).
The menu will feature a wider choice of meals, 50 per cent larger servings and a faster service.
It will debut on the carrier's Melbourne-Dubai-London route on November 25, followed by Sydney-Dubai-London the next day.
Graham Smith
