* Swings to A$109 mln underlying profit on domestic strength
* Revenue rise of 7 pct forecast for Q1 2019
* International business, Tigerair Australia loss-making (Adds analyst comment, updates shares)
By Jamie Freed
Aug 29 (Reuters) - Virgin Australia Holdings VAH.AX reported a return to an annual underlying profit on Wednesday, boosted by its domestic business, and said strong momentum in forward bookings was expected to lead to a profitable current half.
Australia's No. 2 airline and larger rival Qantas Airways Ltd QAN.AX have been cutting domestic capacity, pushing up airfares in a market that accounts for two-thirds of Virgin's revenue base. posted a full-year underlying pretax profit, its most closely watched measure, of A$109.6 million ($80.2 million) in the 12 months ended June 30, compared with a A$3.7 million loss a year ago.
The figure was the highest in a decade and broadly in line with analyst expectations, driven by record domestic underlying earnings before interest and tax of A$246.1 million.
"Virgin Australia's financial results are encouraging, especially for the domestic business," said Corrine Png, the CEO of transport research firm Crucial Perspective. "As long as Virgin Australia's domestic business stays profitable, it can help subsidise the airline's international expansion ambitions."
The international business, which last year added capacity to Hong Kong, and low-cost carrier Tigerair were loss-making.
On a statutory level, Virgin reported its sixth consecutive annual loss, widening to a record A$653.3 million, due to restructuring charges, writedowns on its loss-making international business and de-recognition of deferred tax assets due to its future view of fuel prices and its international business.
Virgin shares, which are tightly held among strategic investors including Etihad Airways, China's HNA Group and Singapore Airlines Ltd SIAL.SI , were trading 4 percent lower in early afternoon trade, while Qantas shares were 1.7 percent higher.
Virgin CEO John Borghetti said the outlook was strong, with group revenue expected to grow by at least 7 percent in the quarter ending Sept. 30 relative to the prior year.
The airline expects to post both underlying and statutory profits in the current half, despite a forecast A$85 million rise in its fuel bill due to higher oil prices.
"Our domestic business is in the best position it has ever been in," Borghetti told reporters. "We are confident in the future of the business."
The airline has converted 10 of its 40 orders for Boeing (NYSE:BA) Co BA.N 737 MAX narrowbodies to the largest MAX 10 version, for delivery from 2022. It will receive its first fuel-efficient MAX 8 in November 2019.
The carrier's joint venture with Air New Zealand Ltd AIR.NZ on Australia-New Zealand routes ends in October, and Borghetti said he was "very pleased" with forward bookings to date. airline lifted its cost-cutting target for the current financial year by A$50 million to A$400 million.
Borghetti is scheduled to exit the airline by January 2020. A replacement has not yet been selected. ($1 = 1.3669 Australian dollars)