Qantas lifts passenger numbers in August

** FILE ** A Tuesday, July 24, 2007 file photo of the tail of a Qantas Boeing 767 in Sydney. Qantas announced they are closing their Maintenance Facility at Avalon, Melbourne, Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING

Qantas has reported a modest rise in monthly passenger numbers amid hopes that its shareholders could be in line for a $2 billion windfall.

The airline lifted passenger numbers by just under one per cent in August, with falls in the domestic market offsetting growth for its international services.

Qantas announced its monthly traffic figures amid speculation that it could return more than $2 billion to shareholders and produce a record profit this financial year.

The airline said in August, when it announced its return to profit, that shareholders would receive a $505 million windfall through a 23 cent per share cash distribution.

But Deutsche Bank research analyst Cameron McDonald estimates that the airline has about $2.4 billion in surplus cash that it could return to shareholders.

“We expect that Qantas will likely announce capital management equating to 50c/share at 1H16 and up to 70c/at the FY16 results,” he wrote in a note to clients.

The airline enjoyed a $3.3 billion turnaround in 2014/15, bouncing back from a record $2.8 billion net loss to produce a net profit of $557 million.

Its underlying pre-tax profit for the year was $975 million, its best result since the global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, in its latest traffic results, Qantas said total domestic passenger numbers fell two per cent in August while international travellers rose 9.7 per cent.

Jetstar lifted domestic passengers 3.6 per cent but its international numbers were down 3.9 per cent.

Overall for the year so far, the airline’s passenger numbers are up by 1.5 per cent from the previous year thanks to the recovery by its international division.

Qantas shares closed one cent higher at $3.72.

Latest News

  • Products

Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun

If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Tourism

TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips

The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]

  • Aviation

Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak

Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]

  • Hotels

Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa

Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]

  • Luxury
  • News

Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]