Slashing jobs and jets, Qantas makes a plea for state aid

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Anyone wondering about the fate of the remaining Atlas aircraft in Qantas’s fleet only need read this to suspect that they will be returned to the lessor. The struggling Aussie airline is cutting 5,000 jobs and 50 aircraft, after making a loss of A$252m in six months. It plans to cut costs of A$2bn ($1.8bn) in the next three years, making its deal with Emirates – which clearly has not reaped the rewards yet that Qantas had hoped for –  look like a relationship of un-equals. Particularly in light of the fact that it is complaining that government-backed carriers have too much of an advantage.