Peter Snelling

PETER GEORGE SNELLING 01 June 1939 - 29 August 2025

Peter joined Qantas on 01 February 1955 as office boy to the Commercial Manager (Bill Nielsen) in Shell House (Qantas’ Headquarters) in Carrington Place, Sydney. In this role Peter came into contact with Sir Hudson Fysh and other QF senior executives (mostly all ex WW2 Pilots) of the time.

After 12 months, he transferred to Mascot Airport as a Traffic Officer in the old ITB and did the normal range of traffic duties: passenger check-in, ticket writing, documents, load sheets, loading and cargo, finishing up in the Load Allocation Section with Bill Gibbs and Barry Hill.

In 1957 he was transferred to Lae PNG (after having to get his parents’ permission to go O/S as he was under 18) and apart from the normal traffic roles, worked in the Government Store with Geoff Filtness and also did a spell as an aircraft purser. He was transferred to Madang and served there until Qantas’ role ceased in 1960 and he transferred back to Sydney where he again worked at the ITB.

After having agreed to a Cocos Island posting, in 1961 and at the last minute, this was changed to Fiji where he worked for 5 years (2 single and 3 married) while living at the Old Mocambo Single Quarters then, after marrying his wife Rosalie, in the Lautoka Flats where their daughter (Fiona) was born and finally a house on the Namaka Estate.

Returning to Sydney ITB 1965, he worked as a Flight Traffic Officer for over a year and in 1967 after their son (Scott) was born, was transferred to New York as Airport Traffic Manager where he worked for 3 years at JFK where he was involved in the QF B707 aircraft sell-off and also with Boeing and PAA in preparatory work for the B747. Whilst in JFK he negotiated with US Customs and Immigration for ‘progressive clearance’ operations for Qantas flights, which were quickly picked up by most carriers and remains in place to this day.

Relocating to the new Tullamarine Airport in 1970 as Duty Airport Manager, he was involved in the overnight move of Qantas operations from Essendon to Tullamarine Airport and welcomed the first Qantas B747 to Tullamarine. He also had the privilege of showing Sir Reginald Ansett over Qantas’ new acquisition.

1973 saw a move to Darwin as Assistant Manager and, after surviving Cyclone Tracy and managing the largest airborne evacuation in Australia’s history, was transferred to Perth as Airport Manager.

In 1977 Peter was promoted Manager Mauritius but, after only 1 year, Qantas withdrew service to South Africa and Peter was seconded to Air Mauritius who wanted to form an international airline. He played a prominent role with Mauritian, Indian, French personnel in establishing Air Mauritius international operations.

After leaving Mauritius in 1979, Peter was promoted Manager San Francisco and remained in that role until Regional Headquarters relocated to SFO and he was appointed Ground Services Director, the Americas responsible for all Qantas self-

handling operations in SFO, HNL, JFK, YVR, Property, Computer & Communications Services and the North American Passenger Reservations unit. He also oversaw the establishment of a Qantas start-up in LAX with Jimmy Guy and Kevin Sargent.

1984 saw a return to Melbourne Airport as Airport Manager, a role he retained until 1987 when he resigned from Qantas and was appointed founding General Manager Sydney Airport when the Federal Airports Corporation took over management of the majority of Australian Airports on 01 January 1988. During Peter’s time in the role, he oversaw construction of Pier C at the (new) ITB and also the Third (Parallel) Runway which made Australia’s bid for the 2000 Olympics possible.

Peter eventually moved on from Sydney Airport to the role of General Manager Operations at FAC Head Office, responsible for airport operations at all Australian Airports and Chair of Australia’s National Facilitation Committee.

Australia’s major airports were eventually privatised by the Australian Government and Peter set up and managed a successful consulting firm which he discontinued in 2000 after his wife Rosalie was diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, Rosalie died in 2001.

Peter remarried in 2003 to Sandra Lusby and moved to live in the Cotswolds in the UK. Sadly, this marriage lasted only 6 years when Sandra also died of cancer.

Peter returned to Australia in 2010 and chose to live in Kiama. He has been an active member of the Historical Aircraft Restorations Society (HARS) since his return to Australia.

He is survived by his daughter, Fiona (who did a stint as a Qantas Flight Attendant) and his son Scott who is still employed with Qantas Engineering Management.