In honour of its 95th birthday, Qantas has painted one of its 737-800 aircraft in 1960s livery. It’s strange to see those markings — complete with the winged kangaroo — on a modern jet, but it’s a clever move by the Australian carrier.
For many Australians, Qantas is a “lovemark” — a brand that we love because it reminds us of home. Like Vegemite, it may or may not be the best product in its category, but it’s ours.
Qantas has long traded on this phenomenon, which is why it’s most successful campaign based around Peter Allen’s I Still Call Australia Home, is best remembered and often repeated.
Of course, the big challenge in commercial aviation is to keep up with the competitors. Nostalgia will only get you so far.
Hopefully, the folks running the show understand that and Qantas will continue to innovate, find its place in the pantheon of airlines and remain aloft.
haha my flight to Tonsai in March was the first ever buinsess class ticket I bought for leisure travel. $1500 return from Paris for a 13-hour overnight flight was too good an offer to pass up. And that flight gave me enough miles to get me all the way to Hawaii and back as well!Did you visit the lounge in Phuket on your departure? I LOVED to be ushered past about 500 people waiting in security lines! Emerald status rules indeed!