QANTAS has dealt the industry a painful one-two punch as it seeks to restructure its operations and tackle rising fuel costs, slashing 400 jobs and increasing international fares by three per cent.
According to news agency AFP, the airline announced it was slashing the jobs of 150 staff and 250 contractors, after axing hundreds of maintenance posts six months earlier.
Lyell Strambi, chief of Qantas’ domestic operations, said: “The Qantas group fleet age is at its lowest level in 20 years, with 122 new aircraft joining the fleet in the past four-and-a-half years.
“I believe we have some of the most highly skilled and capable engineers in the world. Unfortunately, we just have too many for the work we have right now and the work we expect to have in the future.”
Meanwhile, news has also been circulating about a fare hike by Qantas.
According to the website of Corporate Travel Connections, an Australian TMC, fares for Qantas’ international first, business, premium economy and economy cabins will increase by around three per cent. The new fare levels will apply to Qantas International core tariff fares from Australia for tickets issued on or after November 21.
This has also been reported by local broadsheet The Australian.
