Looking to bank the final Qantas dividend? You'd better hurry!

Here's what you need to know to bank the final Qantas dividend.

If you're hoping to grab the final Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN) dividend, and you don't own the stock yet, then time is running short.

As you're likely aware, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) airline suspended its twice-yearly passive income payments in 2020. That came as the global travel bans initiated during the COVID pandemic saw the company's revenues dry up and profits turn to losses.

But as the pandemic faded into history and global travel resumed, so too did the Qantas dividend in April 2025.

As for the upcoming passive income payout…

A woman reaches her arms to the sky as a plane flies overhead at sunset.

Image source: Getty Images

What's happening with the final Qantas dividend?

Qantas reported its full year FY 2026 results on 27 August.

Impacted in part by soaring jet fuel costs following the onset of the Iran war, the airline reported a 13.8% year-on-year decline in underlying profit before tax to $2.06 billion.

With profits slipping, management declared a fully franked final Qantas dividend of 19.8 cents per share.

While that's down 25% from last year's final dividend payout, the Qantas share price has also slumped 23.7% in 12 months, recently trading for $8.96.

So, the fully franked 2.2% instant yield you'll be getting from the upcoming final dividend will be broadly in line with what investors received last year. And adding in the benefits of those franking credits, this equates to a grossed-up yield of 3.2%.

Not bad.

Now, if you want to bank that final Qantas dividend, you'll need to own shares at market close today. Qantas trades ex-dividend tomorrow, 15 September. You can then expect to receive that passive income payout on 14 October.

How has the Iran war impacted the Qantas shares?

Qantas shares have caught headwinds from the Middle East conflict on two fronts.

First, the Iran war has negatively impacted the demand for international business and tourist travel.

Second, the virtual closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz oil shipping route has sent jet fuel costs soaring.

Commenting on the impact of the Iran war, which was partly responsible for the lower final Qantas dividend, CEO Vanessa Hudson said:

The final four months of the year saw business and consumer confidence fall as the conflict and economic headwinds created uncertainty, and some large corporates and government responded by managing their costs more tightly, reducing demand for travel.

In response to the surge in fuel prices, we quickly adjusted fares and capacity, and redeployed aircraft to give customers more options to fly to Europe. These actions, along with other mitigations, limited the net impact on earnings to $420 million, despite a $610 million increase in our fuel bill.

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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