High fuel prices and its running dispute with unions have cost Qantas more than $650 million, according to a profit update released today by the airline. Qantas expects a first-half underlying profit of $140 to $190 million, a sharp decline from its $417 million profit in the first half of 2010/11. The labour battle that
An iPhone spontaneously combusted after a Regional Express flight from Lismore to Sydney, according to the airline. The phone “started emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow” after flight LZ319 landed in Sydney on Friday, Regional Express said. A flight attendent was able to extinguish the phone and no one
UPDATED: In a turnabout blamed on the shambolic state of the world economy, Qantas has decided to shelve plans to launch a premium carrier in Asia and will instead form an alliance with Malaysia Airlines, the Australian Financial Review has reported. Qantas executives lost confidence in the capital-intensive venture as the European debt crises worsened
International air travel across the Asia Pacific continued to grow in October but freight markets remained weak, according to figures release by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). Carriers based in the region took on 16.5 million international passengers for the month, a five per cent increase over October 2010 and in line with
New South Wales police have suspended an investigation into threatening letters allegedly sent to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and other executives in the heat of the airline’s dispute with unions. Police last month set up Task Force Barrine to investigate what Qantas described as months of threatening letters that included death threats. A police spokeswoman
Qantas is launching express boarding lanes for premium customers across its main domestic ports. The airline said business class customers as well as Chairman’s Lounge members, oneworld Emerald members and Platinum Frequent Flyers will have the option to use the dedicated lanes when boarding Qantas domestic flights, mirroring the express lane service already available on international
