Qantas Group Gears Up for Busy School Holiday Period with Strong 2023 Performance
As the school holiday season approaches, Australian flag carrier Qantas has shared an industry update, highlighting its positive financial outlook for FY23. The Qantas Group, which includes Jetstar, reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the financial targets set in its May market update.
According to their estimates from the May 2023 update, Qantas is projected to achieve an underlying profit before tax of around AUD 2.4 billion ($1.6 billion). This performance indicates a strong financial position for the airline amid the challenges faced by the aviation industry.
During the school holiday period, the Qantas Group anticipates carrying over four million passengers. Top leisure destinations for domestic travel include the Gold Coast and Cairns, while exciting new international routes like Sydney-Auckland-New York and Perth-Rome are experiencing high demand and heavy bookings.
To bolster its fleet and accommodate the growing demand, the Qantas Group has already taken delivery of six new aircraft since the beginning of 2023. Jetstar, a subsidiary of the Qantas Group, recently received its eighth Airbus A321neo LR, with plans for a ninth delivery in July. By the end of 2024, the airline is expecting a total of 18 Airbus A321neo LR aircraft in its fleet.
Furthermore, Qantas has recently received two new Boeing 787 Dreamliners, bringing its total 787 fleet to 14. However, the arrival of the third aircraft has been slightly delayed and is now anticipated to be in mid-July due to delivery delays at Boeing.
Additionally, the airline is gearing up to reintroduce its eighth A380 into service in early July after undergoing engineering checks and cabin refurbishment. This move signifies the airline’s commitment to enhancing its long-haul services and providing a superior travel experience to its passengers.
Furthermore, as part of its ongoing fleet management strategy, QantasLink has retired three 717 aircraft, which represents 15% of this particular fleet type. These retirements pave the way for the arrival of new Airbus A220s later this year, demonstrating the airline’s dedication to modernizing its fleet and offering cutting-edge technologies.
With its strong financial performance and expanding fleet, Qantas is well-prepared to cater to the surge in travel during the upcoming school holidays, providing a seamless travel experience to its customers across both domestic and international routes.