Qantas is looking to hire 300 pilots and engineers from overseas amidst shortage in Australia

Qantas is looking abroad for new pilots and engineers to add to its domestic fleet, prompting opposition from unions who say the airline is trying to suppress wages.

The flag carrier has unveiled its plan to recruit 300 engineers and pilots over the next five years, including 10 officers and captains-in-training for its A220 fleet.

It also includes 75 pilots and simulator instructors for regional subsidiaries Eastern Australia Airlines and Sunstate Airlines.

Qantas claims its search for crew members abroad is due to a shortage of workers to fill roles in Australia and a significant increase in domestic travel following the pandemic.

The airline stressed that the number of foreign workers being hired was minimal compared to the number of jobs for Australians.

“We will create thousands of new Australian jobs over the next five years, as opposed to the roughly 60 a year we aim to recruit overseas under this agreement,” a spokesman explained.

Qantas has already committed to creating 8,500 skilled jobs for Australians to fill over the next ten years.

The government is considering Qantas’ application to employ staff abroad to solve short-term labor shortages.

Qantas has also called on the government to raise the maximum age for applicants from 45 to 55.

It comes as the airline has been criticized this week by a number of unions for its hiring practices.

The Australian and International Pilots Association claimed that there were already enough qualified pilots in Australia to meet Qantas’ staff shortage.

AIPA president Captain Tony Lucas said Qantas wanted to cut wages and should instead hire local staff and improve working conditions.

“There is no shortage of Australian pilots, with over 300 highly qualified pilots on the waiting list for jobs with the Spirit of Australia,” he said. The Sydney Morning Herald

“All Qantas needs to do to lure them to the new A220s is raise salaries to a competitive level, rather than offer a salary as low as half that of the major US airlines.”

However, the Flying Kangaroo said there are not enough qualified pilots to fly the new A220 aircraft.

“Most of these positions require years of training to become qualified. Therefore, in addition to our Pilot Academy, we are building a long-term talent pipeline through a new Engineering Academy,” said a spokesperson.

The Australian and International Pilots Association said there were already enough qualified pilots in Australia to fill Qantas’ shortfall, but the national airline claimed not enough were trained to operate their A220 aircraft (stock image)

Qantas has already committed to creating 8500 skilled jobs, including 1600 new pilots, to be filled by Australians over the next decade (stock image)

The Australian Council of Trade Unions also denounced the flag carrier for relying heavily on labor hiring.

It accused Qantas of using 14 labor hiring companies – including in-house companies – to hire cabin crew in its domestic, international and Jetstar operations.

These employees are usually paid less than those employed directly by the airline.

ACTU head Sally McManus accused Qantas of “abusing the system” by relying on labor hiring companies.

Labor Relations Minister Tony Burke did not criticize Qantas, saying the airline was ‘acting legally’, but suggested the government close a ‘loophole’ that was clearly there.

Qantas issued a statement responding to criticism of the use of employment agencies.

“There seems to be a concerted effort to portray Qantas as doing something mean, despite the high wages we pay, the training we invest in and the highly competitive industry we operate in,” the airline said.

“Other companies, including airlines, have agreements with similar results, but don’t seem to generate the same criticism.”