** Shares of Australia's flag carrier Qantas Airways QAN.AX rise as much as 5.9% to A$9.410, their highest level since February 13

** Stock posts its biggest intraday gain since August 30, 2024

** The carrier declares special dividend of 9.9 Australian cents per share, its first since fiscal 2000

** Co declares interim dividend of 16.5 Au cents apiece, resuming its dividend payouts since COVID-19 era

** Posts HY underlying profit after tax of A$1.39 billion ($876.26 million), beating Visible Alpha consensus of A$1.37 billion

** The resumption of the dividend also gives confidence the business can continue to deliver strong earnings - Jefferies analysts

** Stock has risen 4.3% this year so far

($1 = 1.5863 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Roshan Thomas in Bengaluru)

((Roshan.Thomas@thomsonreuters.com))