SYDNEY, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas Airways QAN.AX expects first-half underlying profit before tax to jump to between A$875 million ($633.6 million) and A$925 million in the first half of the current financial year ending June 2016, it said on Monday.
That is more than double the underlying profit before tax of A$367 million it posted in the year-ago period. In August, the Flying Kangaroo posted one of the fastest turnarounds in Australian corporate history with a return to full-year, pre-tax profit of A$975 million. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N10U5TA
The profit boost comes on the back of an aggressive cost-cutting programme, a tailwind from cheaper fuel costs and stronger revenue growth, the airline said in a statement.
Qantas will announce first-half earnings on Feb. 23. ($1 = 1.3810 Australian dollars)