Feb 22 (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd QAN.AX on Thursday posted a record first-half underlying profit as its strategy of cutting capacity and hiking fares boosted domestic revenue.
Qantas booked a 15 percent rise in first-half underlying profit before tax, its most closely watched measure, to A$976 million ($761.48 million) for the six months ending Dec. 31, above the airline's guidance range. airline, which controls nearly two-thirds of the domestic market, said overall revenue and other income rose 6 percent to A$8.66 billion. ($1 = 1.2817 Australian dollars)