Qantas forecasts £594 million loss in ‘worst’ half year

Qantas said the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is affecting international bookings after Australia finally began to ease entry restrictions (AP Photo/Matt Hartman, File)

Australia’s national carrier Qantas is forecasting a loss of more than 1.1 billion Australian dollars (£594 million) in July – December in what its chief executive called one of the worst periods of the entire pandemic.

In a notice to the Australian Stock Exchange on Thursday, Qantas said the emergence of the Omicron variant is affecting international bookings after Australia finally began to ease entry restrictions.