Qantas Reaches Pay Deal With Long-Haul Pilots

Qantas reached an in-principle agreement on a new four-year enterprise agreement with the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP). The deal follows a period of high tension in which 76% to 88% of AIPA members authorized industrial action to secure better working conditions.

The agreement covers approximately 1,700 pilots operating Boeing 787, Airbus A330, and Airbus A380 aircraft. Negotiations centered on pay increases, career progression, and rostering improvements. A critical point of contention was the demand for three golden days of leave every two months to eliminate blank line scheduling, a system that requires pilots to be ready for duty within 45 minutes.

Conciliation talks hosted by the Fair Work Commission facilitated the breakthrough. Qantas expects to formalize the agreement on Friday, balancing business needs with the pilots' demands for improved industrial rights and scheduling flexibility.