Australian airline Qantas has announced a pre-tax loss of 165 million euros for the second half of 2013 and is to cut 5,000 jobs.<br /><br />It is also seeking to get rid of some 50 aircraft, either through sales or deferring orders for new planes. These include three Boeing Dreamliners, and eight Airbus A380s.<br /><br />Over the next three years Qantas wants to strip 1.3 billion euros from its costs as it tries to persuade the Australian government to offer aid, and reassure shareholders.<br /><br />Qantas faces fierce competition from Virgin Australia in its home market.
