Qantas has announced the closure of three staff bases, in Canberra, Hobart and Mildura, following a review.
The airline said last month it was considering the closures in an effort to focus more staff in its busiest ports and “respond more quickly to disruptions and reduce delays and cancellations for our customers”.
Today, it said the closure would take effect in 2026.
Qantas said it had conducted an “extensive review and consultation period” and had found consolidating crews at major bases such as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane would strengthen its operations.
“The changes impact around 70 pilots and cabin crew, who will be offered a comprehensive support package to enable them and their families to remain living in Hobart, Canberra or Mildura, while working out of a major base,” a statement from QantasLink said.
“Employees will be offered support for confirmed flights, an allowance to assist with things like accommodation and potential rostering support for a minimum of two years after the base closes.
“Relocation support will be offered to those people who do not want to commute and would prefer to move closer to where they will be working from.”
Mildura Airport’s operations will continue as usual, Qantas said. (ABC Mildura-Swan Hill: Christopher Testa)
QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said it was hoped the change would help the airline “deliver a more reliable service for our customers”.
“We have dozens of new aircraft joining the QantasLink fleet in the coming years and this decision will help us provide customers with opportunities to fly to more destinations and benefit from more frequencies across our regional network,” Ms Yangoyan said.
“Importantly, relocating these jobs to other bases will not impact any of our flying into Canberra, Hobart or Mildura.
“We know the decision will be disappointing to our pilots and cabin crew in these bases and we are putting in place a comprehensive package to support them continuing to maintain their family and life in their home city.”
Airline ‘investing significantly’ in Canberra
There are currently about 230 Qantas and Jetstar flights to and from the capital each week.
Qantas said there would be no change to the flight schedule for Canberra Airport. (Wikimedia: Bidgee/CC BY-SA 3.0 AU)
“The Qantas Group remains committed to Canberra and is investing significantly in its operations in the ACT,” it said.
“QantasLink is also deploying the A220 on flights between Canberra and Melbourne and will launch the A220 on services between Canberra and Sydney from the end of October 2025.
“Additionally, Qantas will continue to employ more than 120 people in the ACT and is committed to maintaining its A220 engineering base in Canberra.”
Last month, the airline said there would also be no impact on Mildura operations, where there are about 50 flights in and out of the regional town weekly.
Today, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) condemned the decision.
It said the move demonstrated a “complete failure from Qantas to listen to their workforce, the travelling public or the outcry from local communities”.
“This is a decision that will have life-changing effects on pilots and cabin crew who were told their jobs in these bases were safe, and who made significant decisions on that assurance,” TWU national assistant secretary Emily McMillan said.
“These crew are now in a position of having to choose between family and career because Qantas continues to put exorbitant profits over people.
“Pilots, cabin crew, regional communities and our political leaders across the spectrum have urged Qantas to reconsider, but its decision to push ahead anyway is a mark of the disdain it still has towards its workforce and the Australian community.”