Qantas was founded in November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services. Sir Miles Thomas in his Autobiography ‘Out on a Wing’ says that his friend W. Hudson Fysh – Chairman of Qantas – was dead set against ordering Comets. It seems that the airline had had many disappointments with products produced by British manufacturers previously and they were not prepared to take the chance with the Comet. Qantas believed that Lockheed products were superior.

Qantas did however operate one Comet – G-APDR – which was leased from BOAC for a short period in 1960. It retained the Corporations markings during the charter.

Olympic Airways