Qantas cuts flights as profit forecast slides

QANTAS is to cut its fleet and amend routes as passenger numbers fall during the global financial crisis.Outgoing chief executive Geoff Dixon said Qantas will reduce capacity equivalent to grounding 10 aircraft.Mr Dixon said this will be done by not taking up the planned lease of two A330-200 aircraft and by changing routes to free up other aircraft. “By taking this action now we will have the flexibility to switch growth back on as soon as market conditions improve,” said Mr Dixon.”We are in unpredictable times and the international business market, in particular, has slowed.”Mr Dixon said the current economic downturn had principally affected Qantas’ mainline international operations and as a result, plans to halt all planned domestic market growth for Qantas and Jetstar.New Qantas chief executive, Alan Joyce, said the airline will seek further profitable flying opportunities, such as the recently launched non-stop Sydney-Buenos Aires services.