Qantas pre-tax profit nudges $1 billion
Qantas ceo Alan Joyce has just confirmed a record first-half result for Qantas Group for the six months to 31 Dec, achieving an underlying profit before tax of $921 million, up from $367 million for the corresponding period last year.
Statutory profit pre-tax was $983 million, jumping from $289 million last year.
“This makes our 2015 calendar-year performance the best in the national carrier’s 95-year history,” Joyce declared.
Qantas Domestic, Jetstar and Qantas Loyalty all set new benchmark results during the half.
Joyce said the lower Australian dollar has resulted in an inbound tourism surge, “and our smarter approach to aircraft utilisation has enabled Qantas International to respond with more capacity, especially on strong Asian and North American routes”.
The QF boss revealed that the Group’s fuel bill had dropped $448 million compared to the same period last year.
Joyce also announced Qantas would open a new premium lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport in the first quarter of 2017.
Further, QF will deploy onboard wi-fi across its domestic fleet next year, having inked a deal with global technology firm ViaSat, and tapping into the National Broadband Network. Trials of the service will begin late this year.
Joyce also confirmed that Qantas International is on track to start operations using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in late 2017, with a pilot recruitment program in the pipeline for around 170 new pilots for the aircraft between now and the end of 2019.
“We are excited about the opportunities ahead – for our customers, our people and our shareholders,” Joyce concluded.
More details in today’s issue of Travel Daily.