Qantas is now asking senior executives to work as baggage handlers

Qantas has asked senior executives to leave their cushy jobs and work full-time as baggage handlers for up to three months in the latest astonishing move from the ‘Spirit of Australia’.

Colin Hughes, the airline’s chief operating officer, wrote to high-level staff last week saying it was looking for at least 100 managers to work in a variety of airport roles for up to five days a week.

Mr Hughes said there was ‘no expectation that you will opt into this role on top of your full-time position’, but noted it was a necessary action to take as a response to growing criticism of Qantas’ ability to handle current demand.

The move would see the airline’s most senior members work as baggage handlers in the latest astonishing move from Qantas (pictured: CEO Alan Joyce

The program would see executives sorting baggage, scanning tags and even driving luggage tugs on the tarma

‘During your time in the contingency program, you’ll be an embedded resource within the ground handling partners,’ the airline’s COO wrote.

‘This means you’ll receive a roster, be scheduled to operate and be supervised and managed in the live operations by our grand handling partners.’

The program would see executives sorting baggage, scanning tags and even driving luggage tugs on the tarmac.

Under the extraordinary plan, managers would be packing planes with people’s belongings and moving cargo between flights.

‘It’s our singular company focus to support our teams to get our operation back to where it should be and provide our passengers the experience they expect from the airline,’ wrote Mr Hughes said.

Qantas said the ‘contingency plan’ was in response to not meeting customers’ expectations.

‘We’ve been clear that our operational performance has not been meeting our customers’ expectations or the standards that we expect of ourselves – and that we’ve been pulling out all stops to improve our performance,’ a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

‘As we have done in the past during busy periods, around 200 head office staff have helped at airports during peak travel periods since Easter.

‘While we manage the impacts of a record flu season and ongoing COVID cases coupled with the tightest labour market in decades, we’re continuing that contingency planning across our airport operations for the next three months.’

Vanessa Hudson, chief financial officer of Qantas will get more than a $1million in stock if she meets performance targets (pictured) 

The airline’s chief operating officer wrote to high-level staff last week saying it was looking for at least 100 managers to work in a variety of airport roles (pictured: Domestic CEO Andrew David)

It’s not known yet if any of Qantas’ highest-paid executives have been asked to lug around customer’s bags – but Qantas confirmed the note was sent to senior executives.

CEO Alan Joyce makes an eyewatering $2million per year, plus bonuses paid in shares. He currently has 669,000 shares, worth $3.7 million.

Andrew David, Qantas’ Domestic and International CEO, took home $1.4million in base salary in the 2021 financial year, as did Jetstar boss Gareth Evans.

CFO Vanessa Hudson earned $1.25million in base, with Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth also earning $1.25million.

Jetstar boss Gareth Evans (left) and loyalty program CEO Olivia Wirth (right) have been offered performance bonuses 

QantasLink topped the list for cancelled flights in April this year with 591 getting the chop closely followed by Qantas with 426, data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics shows.

May was even higher with one in every 13 Qantas flights cancelled or 7.6 per cent of the airline’s total flights, up from 5.1 per cent the previous month.

But in a statement to the ASX in June, Qantas revealed four senior executives would be paid company shares worth a combined total of more than $4million on top of their salary. 

Qantas CFO Vanessa Hudson will be eligible for $1.15million in shares, Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans will be handed $1.22million, Qantas domestic and international CEO Andrew David will receive $1.15million, and Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth is up for $985,000 in stock.

The bonuses will be paid in August 2023 if the executives meet performance targets, though Mr Evans has since resigned.

The Transport Workers Union took Qantas to court in late 2020, when it was ruled the airline illegally sacked nearly 2,000 baggage handlers, cleaners and ground staff before outsourcing their jobs to foreign-owned providers, including Swissport.

The Federal Court found Qantas had breached laws, but the airline is appealing it in the High Court. 

CEO Alan Joyce has been attempting to cut the airline’s costs, with a target of $1billion to be wiped off its books. Most of that has come in worker salaries. 

Issues with its operations remain however, with customers reporting bags being lost, extensive wait times for call centres, cancelled flights and a lack of communication from staff.