‍DALLAS – Qantas (QF) has announced a new three-year partnership with the Australian Red Cross, facilitating important humanitarian initiatives and emergency response work.

The airline has announced a new chapter supporting the Australian Red Cross with a multi-million partnership, bolstering its response to emergencies nationwide.

This critical funding will help the Red Cross continue focusing on delivering services well into the future by funding the recruitment and training of 750 new Australian Red Cross volunteers across the country.  

This new three-year partnership will enable Australia’s Red Cross personnel to travel around Australia for humanitarian work, reducing significant costs and facilitating a quicker response for communities in crisis.

The renewed partnership follows the Australian Red Cross, celebrating 110 years of providing support in times of disaster. 

A Longstanding Partnership

Australia’s national carrier and the Red Cross have worked together for several decades. QF helps the Red Cross mobilize its personnel and resources and deploy them in locations where emergency services are required. Markus Svensson, CEO of Qantas Domestic, said it was a proud partnership for the national carrier.  

“For decades, Qantas and the Australian Red Cross have worked together to support Australians in times of need,” said Svensson.  

Penny Harrison, Deputy CEO of the Australian Red Cross, said the partnership with Qantas would allow volunteers to be trained in psychological and medical first aid.  

“This support from Qantas will help ensure that our volunteers are able to support communities right across Australia,” Harrison said.

The Sydney (SYD)-based airline will also become a proud partner of the Australian Red Cross’s Trauma Teddy, an iconic support item given to children and vulnerable community members for comfort during emergencies such as bushfires and floods. Up to 50,000 are given out every year.  

“It’s also incredible to have their support for our comforting and colourful Trauma Teddies® which help comfort so many during a crisis situation,” Harrison said.

History of Qantas and the Australian Red Cross

• In 1949, QF transported six tons of rice on Qantas DC-4 aircraft to the Philippines.

• In 1963, QF transported supplies to East Pakistan following a cyclone.  

• In the 1950s, QF supported Red Cross blood donations by offering a prize of a flying boat flight to Fiji.  

• Qantas also sponsored the 1958 Red Cross ‘Bride of the Year’ by offering a 1000-pound Super Constellation flight around the world for the bride that raised the most money for the Australian Red Cross.  

• 1974 saw QF and the Australian Red Cross support the community following Cyclone Tracy. This activation resulted in QF setting a world record for carrying the most passengers on board a Boeing 747, and the Australian Red Cross mobilized 2,700 volunteers.  

• In 2019-20, QF donated to the Australian Red Cross bushfire relief fund and supported its fundraising efforts through its extensive network.  

• In 2022, QF worked with the Australian Red Cross to deliver Christmas presents on QantasLink aircraft to the Northern Rivers following floods, and in 2023, it did the same to the Western Downs region of Queensland following bushfires.