SYDNEY, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Australian flag carrier Qantas has reported a 28 percent rise in net profit on the back of strong demand for international travel.

Qantas Airways on Thursday reported its result for the 2024-25 financial year, posting a net profit after tax of 1.61 billion Australian dollars (1.04 billion U.S. dollars), up 28.8 percent from 1.25 billion AUD in 2023-24.

Its underlying profit before tax hit 2.39 billion AUD in 2024-25, up 15 percent on the previous year.

Shareholders will receive a final dividend of 16.5 Australian cents per share and a special dividend of 9.9 cents per share.

Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said in a statement that Qantas and budget carrier Jetstar carried 4 million more customers in the year to June 30 than in the previous financial year.

"Continuing strong demand across all market segments, combined with our dual brand strategy, helped the Group grow earnings," she said.

Qantas International capacity increased by 6 percent and its underlying earnings before interest and tax increased by 20 percent to 903 million AUD.

The airline has placed an order for 20 additional A321XLR aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet renewal.

Hudson said that the first A350-1000ULR aircraft, which Qantas will use for its "Project Sunrise" direct flights from Australia's east coast to London and New York, will enter final assembly in the coming months before expected delivery in October 2026.

Qantas expects ongoing strong travel demand into the first half of 2026.

The Federal Court of Australia earlier in August ordered Qantas to pay a 90 million AUD fine for illegally outsourcing more than 1,800 ground handling jobs in 2020, on top of 120 million AUD in compensation to affected workers.

The airline will pay the penalty in the current 2025-26 financial year but said on Thursday that it increased its legal provision in 2024-25 to account for the fine. (1 Australian dollar equals 0.65 U.S. dollars)