Qantas makes cuts to deal with fuel costs, disasters

SYDNEY: Qantas is cutting capacity growth, retiring aircraft early and shedding managers in response to natural disasters in key destinations and rising fuel costs that it says poses its biggest threat since the global financial crisis, Australia's national carrier said Wednesday.

Recent disasters in Japan, New Zealand and Australia are expected to cost Qantas $140 million in the six months to the end of June, the airline said. The impact in 2012 is not yet known, it said.