Qantas domestic business rises after capacity cut
QANTAS’s vast domestic operations are benefiting from the airline’s move to cut capacity following early signs of passenger demand weakness.
In the airline’s May traffic update, Qantas said its domestic revenue per available seat kilometre (RASK) — an industry measure of efficiency — returned to growth in May following falls in March and April.
The strength has continued through June, Qantas said on Thursday.
“Group domestic RASK growth was restored ahead of expectations, representing a successful outcome to QAN’s swift and rational decision to cut capacity at the early signs of demand weakness,” Macquarie Securities analyst Sam Dobson said in a research note.
Still, group international RASK was lower in May from a year earlier, inline with Mr Dobson’s expectations.
Qantas domestic available seat kilometres fell by 5.1 per cent in May from a year ago, with revenue seat factor up 3.6 points.
In April, Qantas announced it would axe plans to add flights, citing lower than expected demand from consumers wary about economy.
The Sydney-based airline had been planning to increase local seat capacity in April, May and June.
Qantas shares gained five cents, or 1.8 per cent, to $2.82.
In May, Qantas saw a 4.2 per cent rise in passengers numbers to 4.01 million as its domestic business returned to growth and international rose.
Domestically, Qantas reported a 1.6 per cent increase in passenger numbers in May.
Qantas’ international unit booked a 6.7 per cent rise in passengers.