Speaking at the Qantas Annual General Meeting in Brisbane on 7 November, Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson told shareholders the carrier is ‘on track for another successful half-year’ thanks to robust leisure and SME demand and improved on-time performance. Hudson confirmed delivery of 17 new aircraft in the past 12 months—among them the Asia-Pacific’s first A321XLRs—and previewed the arrival of ultra-long-range A350-1000s that will enable non-stop Sydney–London Project Sunrise flights from late 2027.
The CEO also revealed the group will retrofit 80 existing aircraft, including Jetstar 787s and Qantas 737s, and launch the Economy Plus cabin early next year. Domestic capacity will be ‘fine-tuned’ in H2 FY26 to match softer corporate demand, but international capacity continues to climb as another refurbished A380 rejoins the fleet.
![CEO Vanessa Hudson outlines fleet-renewal and Project Sunrise roadmap at Qantas AGM]()
Hudson highlighted a new employee share plan giving 25,000 staff A$1,000 in Qantas stock annually, aiming to rebuild morale after pandemic-era layoffs. She reiterated the company’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 through fleet modernisation, SAF procurement and carbon-offsetting.
For corporate mobility planners, the AGM signals that later-evening Brisbane connections, expanded A321XLR frequencies and forthcoming Economy Plus seating will change network and fare-class options over the next 18 months. Project Sunrise could reshape long-haul travel policies once ultra-long-range services commence.
The CEO also revealed the group will retrofit 80 existing aircraft, including Jetstar 787s and Qantas 737s, and launch the Economy Plus cabin early next year. Domestic capacity will be ‘fine-tuned’ in H2 FY26 to match softer corporate demand, but international capacity continues to climb as another refurbished A380 rejoins the fleet.
Hudson highlighted a new employee share plan giving 25,000 staff A$1,000 in Qantas stock annually, aiming to rebuild morale after pandemic-era layoffs. She reiterated the company’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 through fleet modernisation, SAF procurement and carbon-offsetting.
For corporate mobility planners, the AGM signals that later-evening Brisbane connections, expanded A321XLR frequencies and forthcoming Economy Plus seating will change network and fare-class options over the next 18 months. Project Sunrise could reshape long-haul travel policies once ultra-long-range services commence.
