Qantas unveils bumper $1.46bn profit as Australian travellers shrug off cost-of-living pressures

Qantas, Australia's largest airline, announced a $1.46 billion underlying profit for the first half of the year. This strong financial performance is attributed to high customer demand for both domestic and international travel, despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures. The airline cited increased flight frequency to destinations like Japan, Bali, and New Zealand, as well as the introduction of more fuel-efficient aircraft, as contributing factors. The profit represents a 5% increase compared to the same period last year. The company credits new routes and better fuel efficiency for the positive result.