World · India Bureau
Qantas to cut 850 jobs, shift some work to India
Australia's Qantas Airways is planning to eliminate 850 positions and outsource certain functions to India through consulting firm Accenture as part of a broader restructuring drive. The move has drawn sharp criticism from unions representing affected workers.
LSN India ·
Qantas Airways announced plans on Monday to cut 850 jobs and relocate some operations to India, marking a significant restructuring as the airline pursues increased technology investments. The positions slated for elimination span finance, procurement, human resources, and marketing departments.
The Australian carrier has engaged Accenture to facilitate the transition of certain roles to India, according to reports. The decision comes amid the airline's push to modernize its technology infrastructure and reduce operational costs in back-office functions.
Union representatives have mounted fierce opposition to the restructuring plan. Labor organizations representing Qantas staff have condemned the job cuts and the move to offshore roles, arguing the measures will impact experienced workers and potentially compromise service quality.
The redundancies represent a significant headcount reduction for Qantas, which has faced mounting pressure to improve profitability following the pandemic-induced downturn in aviation. The airline has previously announced other cost-containment measures as it navigates recovery in the sector.
The offshore transition marks a broader trend among major corporations of relocating non-core administrative functions to lower-cost jurisdictions, though such moves typically face resistance from local workers and their representatives.