Qantas, Australia’s largest domestic and international airline, has announced plans to hire more than 30,000 frontline workers, buy new state-of-the-art aircraft, and establish a new engineering academy. This move is considered significant as the company plans to fill the gaps left by the thousands of jobs lost during the pandemic. By 2033, Qantas aims to have about 32,000 staff compared to 23,500 currently, with over 8,500 high-skill jobs in Australian aviation, including 4,500 cabin crew positions, 1,600 pilot roles, 800 engineers, and 1,600 in operational positions. Qantas will purchase 299 narrow-body and 12 wide-body aircraft over the next decade to boost the capabilities of its fleet. Additionally, the company plans to invest in building an engineering academy that will train up to 200 students per year. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said that aviation requires a big skills pipeline to ensure constant renewal as it relies on the long-term skills base required. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) criticized Qantas’ job cut strategy, arguing that it resulted in the loss of experienced workers, and Qantas’ job replacement decisions would lead to a return of inferior jobs. Qantas defended their job slash, arguing it was a survival decision made during the pandemic with a lot of people leaving the industry. Joyce also pointed out that recruitment plans would help fill the gap as they prepare for new routes with new aircraft.
Qantas aims for significant growth.
