Freight gave a strong lift to Qantas¡¯ increased profit for the half-year ended December 31, 2006. Freight revenue increased by 6.7% on the previous comparable half-year, through additional wet-leased freight capacity and stronger yields, the company said.

Qantas said it achieved a before tax result of $523m, an increase of 8.3 percent on the same period in 2005, despite higher fuel costs and take-over talks.

Total revenue for the half-year was $7.7bn, an increase of 12.7 percent on the comparable half-year.

Revenues resulting from activities other than passenger transport ¨C including freight transport ¨C increased from $1.55bn to $1.7bn for the half-year. The company footed a fuel bill of $1.7bn, an increase of $388m on the previous half-year.

¨C John Spiers