Qantas to outsource 850 local jobs with most shifting to India
Qantas is outsourcing 850 local corporate jobs, primarily to India via consulting giant Accenture, as part of a strategy to modernize its IT systems and accelerate AI investment. CEO Vanessa Hudson apologized for the "hard news" but emphasized the need for efficiency and upgrading outdated technology. This decision follows recent fare increases and flight cuts by the airline.
Why it matters
This move highlights the global trend of companies leveraging outsourcing and AI to cut costs and modernize operations, impacting local employment and potentially setting a precedent for other industries facing similar pressures. It also reflects the ongoing challenges airlines face with rising fuel costs and the need for technological transformation.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Lana Lam Sydney Getty Images Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson apologised for the "hard news" of 850 job cuts Qantas will outsource 850 local corporate jobs to consulting giant Accenture with most roles moving to India as the airline fast-tracks AI investment.
In an internal email to staff on Tuesday, the Australian company's CEO Vanessa Hudson said "this is hard news for some and I'm sorry for the uncertainty it brings".
The job cuts will begin mid-2027, she said, and start with finance, procurement, people and marketing roles shifting "mostly" to teams in India and "some in Australia" as the firm seeks to modernise its IT systems.
Hudson said the "scale and speed of change in technology and AI is something none of us has seen in our lifetime", and it was in talks with unions and staff on the plans.
Headlinne story · 3 newsrooms
Qantas Cuts 850 Australian Corporate Jobs to Outsource Work to India
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4 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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