A survey by three pilot unions (the TWU, the AFAP and the AIPA) of Qantas pilots who'd be affected by the airline's potential base closures in Canberra and Hobart has shown 68% would look for alternative employment if the proposal went ahead, with a further 25% undecided.
One in five has already experienced a base closure and had to relocate, and this potential action from Qantas comes less than a year after the airline endorsed movements of pilots to any base of their choice on the premise that all bases would continue operating. Base closures would not only severely impact pilots and crew affected, but also the stability of regional QantasLink routes.
With current base structures, recent airline performance data shows QantasLink (which services regional areas) has the best on time arrival performance and a lower cancellation rate than the rest of the Qantas group, but this could be in jeopardy if the base closures were to go ahead.
Recently Qantas was handed down a record penalty of $90 million for illegally outsourcing its entire ground staff during the pandemic and was slammed by the Federal Court for its treatment of the workforce.
TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said:
"Qantas is still treating its people, as well as the people of Australia, as expendable. It is not enough that pilots have already uprooted their entire lives once after the last base closures, now they may have to do so again and make the impossible choice between their career and their loved ones. The aviation industry is already in crisis and these base closures would only bring down standards for workers and passengers further.
"It is clear that we still cannot trust aviation executives to act in the interests of its workforce or regional Australia. We need a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to return an industry that works for the entire community."
AFAP Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens said:
"This revised position from Qantas comes less than a year after the company had endorsed movements of pilots allowing transfers to any base of the pilot's own choosing, on the premise that all bases would continue operating.
"This latest move shows that Qantas has continuing and complete disregard for pilots and the impact of such decisions on the pilots' families."
AIPA President Captain Andrew Marshall said:
"National Jet Systems members are facing the prospect of base closures and possible relocation as a result. This is an incredibly traumatic time for those involved and their families. Some are facing it for the second time in a number of years and, considering reported assurances that the bases were safe as little as a couple of months ago, this must be hitting very hard… we will continue to ensure the rights of NJS pilots are upheld throughout this process."
Quotes from affected pilots:
"I will be forced to choose between my job and children. Leaving Hobart will mean no longer seeing my children."
"It would split my family up. My partner will not leave Canberra, and I would have to leave my son."
"After the Perth closure we had two options, Canberra or Melbourne. We got Canberra, and we have rented here for three and a half years due to the uncertainty….. We finally bought a house in December 2024."
"After promises that bases were safe, this is a swift kick in the guts. Families have made major financial decisions based on assurances from management."
