Qantas announces job cuts and outsourcing to India

The transition is anticipated to begin by mid-2027, with Accenture’s teams in both India and Australia handling the transferred responsibilities. Qantas stated it intends to consult with employees and unions, exploring opportunities to redeploy affected personnel.

Hudson emphasized the need to adapt to rapid technological advancements, particularly the increasing influence of artificial intelligence. “The scale and speed of change in technology and AI is something none of us have seen in our lifetime,” she stated. The airline currently spends over £514 million annually on technology, managing a system of legacy applications.

Qantas will initially transfer corporate services to Accenture, with automation and AI expected to play a growing role in these operations. The company anticipates around 850 roles will be impacted over the coming years.

The announcement has drawn criticism from labor unions, who questioned the decision to relocate Australian jobs. Scott Cowen, assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Union, argued that the cost of technological change should not be borne by workers.

This news follows recent industrial action by Qantas ground workers at major airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, who protested over pay and working conditions. Michael Kaine, Transport Workers’ Union of Australia secretary, criticized the airline’s actions as degrading to the spirit of Australia.

The job cuts at Qantas are part of a broader trend of job losses and corporate restructuring in Australia, including National Australia Bank’s plans affecting 2,500 positions and Canva’s changes impacting over 1,200 roles. Qantas employs approximately 32,000 people globally. The airline also cited rising fuel prices due to the US-Israeli conflict in Iran as a factor prompting fare increases and adjustments to flight capacity. Angus McFarland, Australian Services Union secretary, described the cuts as a “gut-wrenching blow” to workers.