Qantas trying to recruit 1500 staff who left during Covid – but some will need to accept less pay 

Qantas are trying to rehire 1,500 cabin crew who were made redundant or resigned during the Covid pandemic – but many of them will have to rejoin the airline on less pay.

The airline has seen a resurgence in travel, with domestic flight volume now close to 100 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

The airline’s international operations are expected to be 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by the middle of 2023. 

Qantas has sent an email to 1,500 former cabin crew who lost their jobs when borders were shut as part of a recruitment drive to bolster staff numbers to respond to the increased demand. 

But the offer comes with the condition that some former staff members who signed ‘legacy’ agreements would need to accept lower wages and conditions.  

Qantas has seen a resurgence in travel, with domestic flight volume now close to 100 per cent of pre-Covid levels and its international operations expected to be back to 80 per cent of pre-pandemic by the middle of 2023 (stock image)

Former crew executive manager Leeanne Langridge sent out the email, explaining that the airline was aiming to recruit at least 1,500 staff before the end of 2023.

‘As you know the pandemic was extremely challenging for Qantas and the broader aviation industry,’ the email begins.

‘With the changes we’ve made across the airline and the incredible rebound in travel over the last 12 months, the business is back in profit and growing again.

‘With our network growing and one new aircraft joining the group every three weeks on average over the next several years, there are new opportunities for our customers and people.’

Former cabin crew will be able to return for a fixed 12 month period or permanently if they prefer.

International crew who were previously employed as a customer service manager, supervisor or business and first flight attendant (BFA) would return as BFAs.

Domestic crew would return as flight attendants.

The email stipulates former staff will still have to complete a pre-screening questionnaire and undergo an interview process which will include extensive reference, medical and aviation security background checks.

Training for successful candidates will vary and depend on when they last worked for Qantas.

Expressions of interest close February 26.

‘As an experienced former cabin crew member, we are reaching out to you to see if you’re interested in being part of Qantas’ next chapter,’ Ms Langridge concluded the email.

An email was sent to former staff by former crew executive manager Leeanne Langridge

The airline has offered former cabin crew the opportunity to return for a fixed 12 month period or permanently if they prefer

Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia national secretary Teri O’Toole explained that it was great to see the airline offer former staff their old jobs despite the pay cuts.

‘Of course we’re not happy that these crew come back on lesser conditions and pay than when they left but some cabin crew are dedicated to the role and miss their colleagues, and will want to come back,’ she said.

While employees on ‘legacy’ agreements would need to take a pay cut, those who were hired by Qantas not long before the pandemic would not be on the same wage.  

Ms O’Toole said she hoped the airline would eventually scrap the different agreements cabin crews were employed under.

‘The government needs to keep their election promise of same job, same pay legislation so that crew working in the same uniform on the same planes are not being paid differently with different conditions,’ she added. 

A Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘When our airline operations were grounded as a result of the pandemic and we had to stand down most of our workforce, a number of people made very difficult decisions to leave the company.’

‘Now that we are back in profit and growing again, we’re reaching out to some of these people to see if they’re interested in coming back to the Qantas family.

‘We’re also recruiting externally in line with demand for a wide range of roles and we’ve been getting great responses to our recruitment drives.’