Qantas reports best year in its 95-year history
Qantas Group has reported its best calendar year since it was launched 95 years ago.
It achieved an underlying profit before tax of $921 million in the six month period to December 31, the first half of its financial year.
This was compared to $367 million in the same period the year before.
"This makes our 2015 calendar-year performance the best in the national carrier’s 95-year history," said chief executive Alan Joyce.
"Every segment of the Group has contributed strongly to today’s result, with each reporting a rate of return above our cost of capital. Qantas Domestic, Jetstar and Qantas Loyalty all achieved record results in the half."
He said Qantas International had achieved a ‘remarkable turnaround’ with a four-fold rise in underlying earnings to $270 million.
Joyce said the division was benefiting from cost control, the lower Australian dollar which is driving an inbound tourism surge, and a ‘smarter approach to aircraft utilisation’.
"Our performance has also been bolstered by our three cornerstone partnerships – with American Airlines, China Eastern, and Emirates," he added.
Qantas also today announced it is building a new premium lounge at London Heathrow Airport in the first quarter of 2017.
The premium lounge will occupy a split-level space in Terminal 3 that will have capacity for around 230 people, with views over the Heathrow airfield.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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