Qantas’ new Dreamliner goes indigenous

Livery based on 1991 painting by Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Qantas has unveiled a special livery honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians on its latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the second time in the airline’s history that the iconic flying kangaroo on the aircraft has been changed to form part of the design.

The new livery is based on the 1991 painting, Yam Dreaming, of the late Northern Territory artist and senior Anmatyerre woman, Emily Kame Kngwarreye. The artwork depicts the culturally significant yam plant, an important symbol in Emily’s Dreaming stories and a staple food source in her home region of Utopia, 230km north-east of Alice Springs. The aircraft itself will be named Emily Kame Kngwarreye in tribute to the artist.

Livery based on 1991 painting by Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the striking artwork is intended to encourage more people to explore the indigenous elements that form part of ‘the Spirit of Australia’.

The fourth Dreamliner to enter the Qantas fleet, following the arrival of Great Southern Land, Waltzing Matilda and Quokka, the aircraft will enter service on international routes from late March.

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