Aug 25 (Reuters) - Australian airline Qantas Airways Ltd QAN.AX on Friday posted its second-best core annual profit ever, slightly ahead of analysts estimates, as the domestic market improved and challenging conditions in the international market abated.
Underlying pre-tax profit, Qantas's most closely watched measure, totalled A$1.4 billion ($1.11 billion) for the year to June 30, shy of the prior year's record of A$1.53 billion.
Qantas in May said it expected to post an underlying profit before tax of A$1.35 billion to A$1.4 billion. Six analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S had forecast an average of A$1.38 billion. ($1 = 1.2657 Australian dollars)