Qantas trims international losses
Qantas reduced losses on its international operations by 65% in first half 2012-2013 compared with 1H2011-2012.
The international division made a loss of $91 million in the six months to December, an improvement from a $262 million loss in the previous corresponding period.
Overall, Qantas Group announced profit after tax of $111 million for the six months ended December 31, 2012.
The company had a one-time pretax gain of $140 million from the cancellation of Boeing Dreamliner orders.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the group was "delivering against all its strategic goals".
"During 1H13 we increased underlying profit by 10 per cent, announced a global aviation partnership with Emirates, launched Jetstar Japan, reinforced our position in the Australian domestic market, reduced comparable unit costs by 3 per cent, announced the early repayment of $650 million in debt, commenced a share buy-back and sold non-core assets."
The Qantas boss said the operating environment remained "complex and volatile", but Qantas was beginning to realise the benefits of tough decisions made over the past 18 months.
Qantas also announced it would upgrade its entire fleet of Airbus A330s and order new Boeing 737-800s to drive its strategy in the international and domestic markets.
Beginning in late 2014, Qantas will reconfigure the interior of 10 Airbus A330-300s and 20 A330-200s with a new flat seat in business class, refreshed economy cabin and a new inflight entertainment offering.
Qantas International will operate the A330-300s on its network between Australia and Asia, while Qantas Domestic will operate the A330-200s on routes between the east coast and Perth – enabling the final retirement of the group’s Boeing 767s.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025