Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has laid out an ambitious dual strategy for the national carrier, combining the largest fleet renewal in its history with a major push to establish a homegrown sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia.
A New Chapter for Australian Aviation
Celebrating two years in the top role, Ms Hudson confirmed Qantas is firmly on track with its monumental fleet overhaul. This multi-billion dollar renewal program spans the entire Qantas Group, including the Jetstar and domestic narrow-body fleets, and will culminate with the introduction of the groundbreaking Project Sunrise aircraft next year.
"The fleet renewal that is underway is the largest renewal we have ever done in our history," Ms Hudson stated. The centrepiece of this transformation is the Airbus A350-1000, which will enable direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to New York and London from next year.
Building a Homegrown Fuel Industry
In a parallel strategic move, the Qantas CEO championed the development of a local sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry, labelling it a matter of "national interest." Ms Hudson revealed that Qantas, which spends a staggering $5 billion annually on fuel, believes Australia is uniquely positioned to create its own SAF resource.
"We are a country that should be able to lead technically in this space because we've got significant agriculture and feedstock for such an industry," she explained, pointing to a fledgling operation in North Queensland that turns sugar cane by-product into ethanol for aviation fuel as a promising example.
Ms Hudson emphasised that such an initiative could generate more than 13,000 jobs and bolster Australia's fuel security. However, she stressed that ongoing government support remains crucial to make the fuel commercially viable. This follows a significant federal government announcement in September to contribute $1.1 billion towards greener fuel production, a result of years of aviation industry lobbying.
A Return to Basics and National Pride
Reflecting on her tenure, Ms Hudson said her team adopted a "laser-focus" on core operational performance to turn the airline's fortunes around. She reported that Qantas Domestic has reclaimed its position as the most reliable carrier, with Jetstar and Qantas International also showing material improvements.
"We have stabilised things and we've got our customer satisfaction and our performance back to a really good place," she said, adding that the successful execution of the fleet renewal is now the critical next step.
Ms Hudson concluded by acknowledging the special relationship the airline holds with the Australian public. "We hold the fact that Australians have pride in Qantas close to our heart," she said. "Making Australians proud of Qantas is what we are really purposeful about."
