Qantas Group today reported an underlying profit before tax of $192 million, for the year ended 30th June 2013. In a statement the airline group said the result demonstrated progress in its strategy against a challenging backdrop, with high fuel costs, excess capacity in the domestic market and intense competition in the international market.

Emirates and Qantas have enhanced their joint network as bookings opened for their new schedule between New Zealand and Australia. Among a suite of enhancements aimed at providing more convenience and better connections for travellers to and from New Zealand, Qantas has retimed its existing Christchurch-Sydney service enabling more international connections from Sydney and will launch a new Perth-Auckland service.

New Zealanders will soon be able to take full advantage of the Qantas and Emirates partnership, with the joint network opening for bookings from August 14th 2013. Aligned fares, frequent flyer benefits and codeshare arrangements will all be switched on across the Tasman, making it easier for New Zealanders to access world class travel experiences.

Qantas and Disney today announced a movie premiere to be held at 30 000ft on 7 September 2013. Disney’s ‘Planes’, the latest family movie from Disney Studios will take-off on a Qantas Boeing 767 aircraft providing 254 passengers from across Australia with a once in a lifetime experience.

Rolls-Royce has offered its support the conclusions of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the failure of a Trent 900 engine on board a Qantas Airways Airbus A380 on November 4th, 2010. Colin Smith, director engineering & technology, Rolls-Royce, said: “This was a serious and rare event which we very much regret.”

Last week new global airline partners Emirates and Qantas launched the first in a series of nationwide roadshows aimed at UK travel trade partners.  The first show commenced in London on Tuesday 04 June with further shows taking place in Glasgow, Newscastle, Manchester and Birmingham over the next week.