Qantas airline chief quits over 'tickets sold for cancelled flights'

THE boss of Qantas is to leave his job immediately following a series of embarrassing revelations about the airline, including allegations it sold tickets for flights that had already been cancelled.

- Simon English

Chief executive Alan Joyce said that after 15 years running the Australian national carrier he was bringing forward his planned retirement date by two months. The announcement came after a tumultuous few weeks for Mr Joyce and Qantas, which has faced condemnation after announcing record profits of £1.3 billion.

The Australian Consumer Commission last week announced it was taking legal action over allegations Qantas had sold tickets for more than 8,000 flights it had already cancelled in its system.