Qantas has adapted its logo, the flying kangaroo, as the executive general manager John Borghetti, said the time was right for a change to the national airline's logo.

The new logo is said to have a more contemporary flavor with more organic, flowing lines and a typeface created exclusively for Qantas that is crafted to match the curves of the kangaroo. The kangaroo is also described as being more lively, determined and sleeker and an image that symbolizes the new Qantas.

"This move also reflects the changing structure of our new aircraft. For example, the shape of our new kangaroo is a great fit for the tail of the A380 and other new generation aircraft," he said.

"We will also be progressively rolling out the new branding across the airline in the lead up to the delivery of the first A380 in August 2008," he said in a company statement.

The first aircraft in the airline's fleet to carry the new logo and livery is a Boeing 767 which is operating domestic services in Australia.

"The differences are subtle but distinctive, in keeping with the gradual evolution of the logo since it first appeared on one of our aircraft in 1944," Mr. Borghetti said.

"Our new flying kangaroo is sleeker and more contoured than the current version - a modern take on a design that has stood the test of time."

The Qantas kangaroo logo first appeared in 1944, when the kangaroo from the Australian penny was adapted and painted beneath the cockpit of Qantas' first Liberator aircraft. This is the fourth time the logo has been revised.