It seems even the former boss of Australia’s biggest airline is having to wait for his bags at the airport like everyone else, after Alan Joyce was spotted at the baggage carousel.
The ex-Qantas chief was seen talking to another man early on Monday morning as he waited for his luggage at the Sydney airport carousel after arriving from an overseas trip.
Mr. Joyce looked casual in light-colored pants, black sneakers, a button-up shirt and a black jacket.
Next to him, blue-eyed passengers in sweatpants stood waiting for their own suitcases.
It comes after Mr Joyce had $9 million cut from his pay package after a scathing review accused him of damaging Qantas’ reputation.
In August, Qantas announced it would cut Mr Joyce’s pay by $9.26 million, mainly by eliminating long-term bonuses.
Before being stripped of those long-term incentives, the former CEO had total compensation of $11.919 million in 2022-2023, including a base salary of $2.145 million.
After leading Qantas as CEO for 15 years before stepping down in September last year, Mr Joyce has faced intense criticism over canceled flights, lost luggage and accusations of exploiting customers with exorbitant prices.
Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was seen waiting for his luggage at Sydney airport early on Monday morning
The ex-Qantas chief was seen talking to another man early on Monday morning as he waited for his luggage at the Sydney airport carousel after arriving from an overseas trip.
The study, published in August by former McKinsey partner Tom Saar and commissioned by Qantas, found that the airline’s reputational damage was largely due to “too much respect” for a long-tenured CEO.
“The group had a ‘command and control’ leadership style with centralized decisions and an experienced and dominant CEO,” the review said.
The investigation concluded that while there were no intentional findings of misconduct, errors by the airline’s management caused ‘significant reputational and customer service problems’.
In June last year, Mr Joyce also sold $17 million worth of Qantas shares, just days after the airline provided details of canceled flights to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.
Mr Joyce, an Irish-born Australian from humble beginnings in Dublin, earned about $150 million during his tenure at Qantas.
Since Mr Joyce left Qantas in September 2023, he and his husband Shane Lloyd have been splitting their time between their home at Whale Beach, on Sydney’s northern beaches, and their penthouse apartment at The Rocks in the CBD.
Mr Joyce previously told Daily Mail Australia he would work as a director for the Sydney Theater Company and do charity work.
“But I was told I have to take a year off,” he said.
Mr Joyce and Mr Lloyd are also running a scholarship competition in both their names to allow LGBTQIA+ Australian playwrights to work in New York.
Mr Joyce was replaced by former financial director Vanessa Hudson.