Qantas delivered a record profit for investors. But can it win back the respect of everyday travellers?

Alan Joyce is keen to paint a rosy picture but he faces a public with higher expectations, less tolerance for poor service and a hunger for more affordable fares

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After years of Covid-induced pain which saw Qantas haemorrhage billions of dollars, sack thousands of staff, record dismal on-time performances and frustrate customers with cancellations, lost baggage and eye-watering air fares, Australia's national carrier is well and truly back in the black.

Qantas delivered an out-of-the-ordinary $1.43bn underlying net profit in the six months to December that was higher than the profit it recorded in a 12-month period leading up to the pandemic.

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