Qantas traffic figures for the five months to November show an 8.6% increase in passenger numbers across the airline group, compared with the same period last year. International yield for the five months to November were up 12.8% on last year. These figures include the period in November when Qantas was forced to ground its A380s due to an engine explosion. This could be the reason for the tail off in growth from the 14.2% yield recorded in the four months to October and the 13.6% for the three months to September. Domestic yields for the five months to November were up 1% on last year.
Qantas also stated that it will have five Airbus A380s in the air by Christmas. The airline made the announcement in its monthly traffic report today. The A380 fleet will swell to five Thursday after another returns from inspections in Frankfurt. Qantas was due to take delivery of two A380s in December, but the spokesman said the delivery date for that aircraft slipped into January next year.
Qantas closed down one cent at $2.58.