Qantas to cut 850 jobs and move work to India
The Australian airline will partner with Accenture to overhaul technology systems and expand its use of artificial intelligence.
Australian airline Qantas plans to cut approximately 850 jobs as it shifts various corporate operations to India, according to reports from the Times of India and Firstpost. The airline has entered a multi-year agreement with technology services firm Accenture to modernise its back-end systems and data infrastructure.
The transition will affect several business functions, including marketing, human resources, procurement, and finance. Most of these services are expected to be delivered by Accenture teams in India, though some services will continue to be managed in Australia.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson informed staff that the airline currently uses over 1,000 older applications that lack integration. Hudson stated that modernising these systems is a vital step to improve efficiency and support the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has criticised the move, alleging that the decision contradicts previous assurances given to staff in August that no offshoring was planned. ASU Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen said the airline had previously told the union there were no plans to move jobs overseas.
ASU NSW Secretary Angus McFarland said the move would affect positions based at the airline's headquarters in Mascot, Sydney. The union is seeking details on the specific roles affected and is calling for redundancy packages based on years of service.
The first phase of the restructuring is expected to be implemented by mid-2027. Hudson said the airline would consult with workers and unions over the coming months, noting that the company intends to offer retraining and redeployment opportunities to retain staff.