Embattled carrier Qantas said Friday, May 4 it will delay the delivery of two A380 superjumbos as part of a further Aus$400 million (US$410 million) in spending cuts as it works to turn its business around.
AFP reports that the Australian airline had already announced Aus$500 million in cuts in February, which included job losses for cabin crew and pilots as well as in catering, engineering and ground operations.
Qantas has also been reviewing its maintenance operations to identify how to keep costs down, which could see more jobs go.
Chief executive Alan Joyce said the latest savings would come from delaying the delivery of two Airbus A380s.
Qantas was to receive two of the superjumbos in early 2013, but will now get them in the 2016/17 financial year. Another six A380s will be delivered to Qantas from 2018/19.
The changes will cut Qantas's capital expenditure by Aus$400 million in 2012/13 to Aus$1.9 billion.
The latest cuts come after the carrier posted an 83 percent slump in first-half net profit in the six months to December to Aus$42 million.
The airline said Friday progress continued on shaking up its international operation with benefits of Aus$280-$365 million to be realized across financial years 2012-14, from cost savings and halting loss-making routes.
At the same time, it announced a significant boost to domestic flights in an effort to combat Virgin Australia's assault on its business flyers.
