Qantas posts strong earnings for FY25

Qantas Airways posted strong earnings for FY25 and announced highest full-year dividend payout in 17 years. Qantas’s budget arm, Jetstar, reported a 55% surge in earnings during the year, carrying a record 16 million passengers domestically. Its international operations reported 20% growth on strong demand for premium cabins. “Qantas continued to benefit from the return of business-purpose travel with corporate travel almost back to pre-COVID levels domestically,” CEO Vanessa Hudson said. The results come as Qantas works to rebuild its reputation after a string of damaging years since the pandemic. Earlier this month it was fined a record A$90 million for illegally sacking 1,800 ground staff during the pandemic, Reuters reported. Hudson said “continuing strong demand across all market segments, combined with our dual brand strategy, helped the group grow earnings. Qantas and Jetstar carried four million more customers during the year, while our Loyalty business grew as frequent flyers engaged with the program more than ever before. Our strong financial performance is enabling significant investment in new aircraft and customer initiatives, helping deliver better operational performance and customer satisfaction across both airlines.  “Looking ahead, there is a lot to be excited about. This year will see an acceleration of Qantas’ domestic fleet renewal and in the coming years we’ll take delivery of additional A321XLR aircraft fitted with lie-flat Business seats. We will also be using more Sustainable Aviation Fuel from overseas airports while we continue efforts with Government and industry to establish a SAF industry in Australia,” Hudson said. “Direct flights from the east coast of Australia to London and New York are also a step closer to reality, with the first Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR aircraft to enter the final assembly line in the coming months, and the first aircraft delivery expected in October next year.” Qantas also announced an order for an additional 20 Airbus A321XLR aircraft, including the introduction of lie-flat Business seats on its narrowbody aircraft for the first time. The expansion of the group’s largest ever fleet renewal program will see 16 of the 20 additional A321XLRs configured with lie-flat Business seats and seat back entertainment screens to serve longer routes, including transcontinental services to and from Perth, and short and medium haul international routes. The new configuration A321XLRs will begin arriving in calendar year 2028, taking the airline’s total order for the next generation A321XLR to 48 aircraft. The extended range of up to 8,700 kilometres is more than 3,000 kilometres further than the Boeing 737 it replaces and will enable Qantas to launch direct flights to destinations across South East Asia and the Pacific Islands that are not currently viable. Qantas’ first two A321XLRs, which are configured for domestic and short-haul international flying, are expected to start operating commercial flights in mid-September, making Qantas the first airline in the Asia Pacific to operate the aircraft type. The aircraft will initially operate on Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Perth and be progressively rolled out on other routes. By the end of this financial year Qantas will have seven of the aircraft type. Jetstar’s A321XLRs will begin to arrive from calendar year 2027 and will be fitted with a two-class cabin to suit international travel. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]