Australian flag carrier Qantas, and its low cost subsidiary Jetstar, will cut capacity by around 90% from March 20 onwards due to the fall in passenger demand on the back of the Covid 19 pandemic.
In a statement Qantas said that total group international capacity will be cut by around 90 per cent until at least the end of May 2020. This is up from a 23 per cent reduction the group announced last week, and it said in a statement the change, “largely reflects the demand impact of severe quarantine requirements on people’s ability to travel overseas.”
Additionally Qantas is to cut group domestic capacity by around 60 per cent until at least the end of May 2020. This is a major increase from the 5 per cent reduction outlined previously.
The net result will be a grounding of around 150 aircraft, including almost all of the group’s wide-body fleet.
Despite the decrease in passenger service Qantas said its cargo operation would continue and its fleet of freighters will continue to be fully utilised.