Westfield operator Scentre has outshone expectations in its 2022 interim earnings as property income from its $34 billion mall portfolio gets back on track sooner than expected and shoppers return in stronger numbers.

The upbeat result, which sent its stock flying 2.7 per cent, or 7.5¢ higher to $2.86, was a fitting swansong for long-serving chief executive Peter Allen, who delivered his final earnings call on Wednesday. Chief financial officer Elliott Rusanow takes over the role on October 1.