Australia's flag carrier Qantas Airways declared a special dividend for the first time in more than two decades, with the company also reporting a first-half profit on Thursday that rose 11% on the back of strong demand.

Australia’s major airline will pay a dividend for the first time since 2019 after a rise in fiscal first-half profit.

Qantas Airways Ltd. is paying its first dividend since before the pandemic, underscoring the airline’s financial recovery following the crisis and the increasing demand for air travel.