Qantas cutting 850 jobs with new Accenture deal

Australian flag carrier Qantas announced it has signed a deal with Accenture to modernise its back-end systems, processes and data, as it steps up investment in technology and AI. Around 850 roles at the Qantas Group are expected to be affected over the coming years, the airline said, adding it will “consult with affected employees and their unions before individual outcomes are determined. The first wave of changes are expected to be in place by mid-2027”. VIEWPOINT: There is no dignity in AI or automation “We know this will be difficult news for some of our people and this decision is not a reflection of their contribution or commitment,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson. “We are focused on providing redeployment into other roles across the Group where possible, including new roles we’re creating in Australia, as well as on reskilling, retraining and ongoing support and care.” (IMAGE: Shutterstock) Th job cuts come as the airline responds to the pace of change in technology and AI globally, which is rapidly transforming how businesses operate, what customers expect and how people do their jobs, the airline said. “Like every airline, Qantas runs on technology built up over decades for a different era, including more than 1,000 legacy applications that were never designed to work together. Modernising these systems and connecting the data across them is the critical next step to remove complexity, unlock innovation and accelerate the Group’s use of AI, with lasting benefits across the business,” the airline said in a statement announcing the deal. The partnership with Accenture also comes after the airline has been investing more than $1 billion in technology each year, including through the new Qantas Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide, which is set to grow to more than 400 roles, and thousands of employees are already using AI tools in their daily work. Hudson said the deal was about building a more modern, competitive organisation and preparing the business for the future. “The scale and speed of change in this space is unprecedented and unlike anything businesses have seen in generations. Leading organisations around the world are well progressed in using technology and AI to completely transform how they work, and standing still is not an option for us. We need to reinvent the processes, platforms and data behind our business so we can innovate faster and deliver a better, more connected experience for our customers and our people. That means fundamentally redesigning how the work behind our airline gets done, so it is simpler, more connected and keeps getting better, with automation and AI built in from the start.” For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]