Sydney, June 16, 2026, 09:02 (AEST)
- Qantas Airways closed at A$9.94, up 6.31% after today’s session. The S&P/ASX 200 index ended higher too, rising 1.25% to finish at 8,914.00. Google
- Brent crude dropped after the U.S. and Iran struck a deal, taking some pressure off fuel prices, which matter for airlines’ costs. Reuters
- Qantas plans to report its FY26 preliminary final numbers on August 27, 2026. Qantas Investors
Qantas Airways Limited (QAN) jumped 6.31% to A$9.94 on Monday, a rise of A$0.59. The move beat the S&P/ASX 200’s 1.25% advance to 8,914.00. The whole market got tailwind from dropping oil prices and brighter risk appetites. Qantas tends to benefit from cheaper oil, as lower fuel costs work in its favor. Google
Qantas shares climbed Monday without a new trading update from the airline. The ASX only saw a substantial-holder notice for Qantas during June 10–16. The move looks market-driven rather than sparked by any earnings revision. Reuters noted oil settled at a three-month low after news from the U.S. and Iran, and in a separate report said cheaper oil had boosted airline names as fuel costs eased. Higher oil usually hits airline shares because of margin worries. With oil down, airline stocks can get support as long as demand doesn’t slip. Australian Securities Exchange
Qantas bulls pick up on new earnings numbers. The airline reported a 5% rise in underlying profit before tax to A$1.46 billion for 1H26 and said underlying earnings per share climbed 7%. Operating cash flow was A$1.8 billion. Qantas defines underlying profit before tax as profit without some items to give a clearer take on its regular operations. The board flagged up to A$450 million will return to shareholders, splitting A$150 million for on-market buybacks and a fully franked 19.8 cent interim dividend. CEO Vanessa Hudson called it “the largest fleet renewal in our history” and said the solid profit is making it possible. Qantas Investors
Qantas holds onto its bear case. The airline and Jetstar will keep domestic capacity cuts at five percentage points through September, sticking with earlier reductions. International capacity for 1QFY27 will fall by another two points. Qantas made the call after fuel costs and Middle East disruptions earlier this year. Tightening seats or flights could support margins, but at the expense of some revenue. The carrier still plans heavy capex for its fleet overhaul, pointing to Project Sunrise and long-haul strategy as live risks. Earlier in May, Reuters said Qantas was looking at roughly 20 wide-bodies from Boeing or Airbus. According to Qantas, the first A350 tied to Project Sunrise lands in April 2027. Qantas Investors
Qantas shares last changed hands at A$9.94. That’s about in line with fair value, maybe a touch above, but far from cheap. The price-to-earnings ratio is 9.44, according to Google Finance, putting investors at A$9.44 for every A$1 of earnings. Analyst 12-month targets average just under A$11.00, so there’s a bit of room to the upside. But if oil gets pricier, demand slows or capex jumps, there isn’t a lot of downside protection. Next key date is the FY26 update on August 27. Fuel, demand, yields and capital returns are all on the market’s radar as Qantas keeps spending on new planes. Google
