Qantas announces 8500 new jobs and frequent flyer program revamp after record half-year profit of $1.46 billion

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The Qantas Group reported a record half-year profit of $1.46 billion for the first half of the 2026 financial year, an increase of $71 million compared to the previous period. The airline plans to create 8,500 jobs by 2030 and re-establish a cabin crew base in Singapore, along with new initiatives for frequent flyers.Statutory profit after tax rose to $925 million, allowing shareholders to receive a fully franked dividend of 19.8 cents per share.

The current underlying profit surpasses the record set in 2023 under former CEO Alan Joyce. Chief executive Vanessa Hudson highlighted a commitment to customer, employee, and shareholder satisfaction while emphasizing ongoing investments in fleet renewal.

As Qantas adds new aircraft to its fleet, it anticipates the creation of jobs, including 3,500 additional cabin crew and 1,000 pilots.

A new Jetstar cabin crew base will open in Perth later this year, generating 90 roles, while Singapore is expected to accommodate 400 cabin crew members.

Qantas CEo Vanessa Hudson.

Frequent Flyer Changes

Qantas will implement significant changes to its Frequent Flyer program. Members can now earn status credits on the ground through credit cards and program partners.

They will also have the option to rollover up to 50% of excess status credits from one year to the next.

Hudson stated the overhaul aims to enhance flexibility and recognition for members amid a changing loyalty landscape.

Investors remain calm amid Trump’s 15% tariffs, focusing on future policy uncertainty and inflation risks instead.

Investors are largely unfazed as U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs officially come into effect. The administration has introduced a blanket 15 percent levy on imports, initially set at 10 percent under temporary regulations, but markets have responded with little drama. Analysts suggest traders have grown accustomed to tariff announcements, limiting any immediate shock to equities.

While the headline policy shift is significant, experts argue the real concern lies elsewhere. Ongoing uncertainty around global trade policy and the potential for further measures is keeping investors cautious. Rather than reacting to the current rate, markets appear more focused on what could come next.

Inflation pressures also remain firmly on the radar, as higher import costs could feed into consumer prices over time. For now, however, the broader market landscape looks largely unchanged, with investors taking a wait-and-see approach.

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Savannah Guthrie’s family offers $1M reward for info on her missing mother, as FBI investigates suspect linked to DNA evidence.

The family of US television host Savannah Guthrie is offering a staggering $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie. Nancy was last seen on January 31 after being dropped off at her home near Tucson, Arizona, before she was reported missing the following day.

Authorities, including the FBI, have been investigating the disappearance, previously raising the reward to $100,000 as the search intensified. Investigators have now obtained a DNA sample from a glove found near Nancy’s home, believed to be linked to a suspect captured in doorbell camera footage before her suspected abduction.

Savannah shared a heartbreaking message as the desperate search continues, with her family urging anyone with information to come forward. The case has gripped the nation as officials pursue every possible lead.

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