The Covid-19 crisis will spell the end of Qantas’ decades-long support of Australian rugby.
It will end its long sponsorship of the Wallabies national team, which is worth around A$5 million a year.
The Qantas logo will be removed from the Wallabies’ jerseys at the end of 2020.
It’s a big blow for Rugby Australia, which is under financial pressure itself due to the pandemic.
"In an environment where thousands of our people have lost jobs and thousands more are stood down while they wait for flying to restart, we can’t maintain these sponsorships in the way we have in the past," Qantas’ Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said.
"While we’re dealing with this crisis and its aftermath, the cash cost of our sponsorships has to be zero."
Qantas will also stop sponsoring Cricket Australia and Football Federation Australia, but will continue providing ‘in-kind support’ such as free flights and marketing.
The airline will also support the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia, and will fly athletes to Japan next year if the Tokyo Olympics goes ahead in 2021.
Rugby Australia interim Chief Executive Rob Clarke said: "While it is obviously disappointing to lose such a loyal partner, it is understandable given the world we are all now living in and the challenges we are all facing."
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
