SYDNEY: Australian carrier Qantas on Thursday roared back into the black after an aggressive shake-up to stem mounting losses, posting its best interim result in four years helped by a revival in its international arm.
The Aus$203 million (US$162 million) result in the six months to December 31 marked a stunning turnaround from a net loss of Aus$235 million in the same period in 2013 and smashed analyst forecasts.
Underlying profit before tax -- the airline's preferred measure of financial performance -- was Aus$367 million, compared to a loss of Aus$252 million previously which was driven by record fuel costs and fierce competition.
The reversal in fortunes -- after a record annual loss of Aus$2.84 billion in the last financial year -- comes on the heels of a ruthless cost-cutting drive that has seen thousands of jobs axed, aircraft deliveries deferred and growth at Asian offshoot Jetstar frozen.
Chief executive Alan Joyce said the result showed the group was executing the right plan.
"The decisive factor in our best half-year result for four years was our complete focus on the Qantas transformation programme," he said.
"It's clear that without the impact of transformation, we would not be announcing a profit today. What sets this transformation apart is that we are reducing costs permanently while at the same time delivering Qantas' best ever fleet, product and service.
"We are meeting or exceeding all our targets as we build a sustainable future for Qantas with an emphasis on growing long-term shareholder value."
The result was boosted by strong performances across all of the airline's divisions, with both domestic and international operations in profit.
Domestic earnings improved to Aus$227 million while the struggling international arm moved into the black for the first time since the global financial crisis with a Aus$59 million profit, a Aus$321 million turnaround.
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