BLEAK SKIES IN AVIATION
Airport execs roll while Qantas drops bombshell
TWO senior executives at Cairns Airport have been axed as part of a leaner operation as Qantas cut 6000 jobs nationwide.
Airport chief executive Norris Carter has confirmed two executives had been made redundant with the future of international travel still in doubt.
It was a bleak day yesterday with one union chief claiming the Qantas cuts would be devastating to the Far North.
TWO senior executives at Cairns Airport have been axed as part of a leaner operation while Qantas has cut 6000 jobs nationwide.
Airport chief executive Norris Carter has confirmed that two executives had been made redundant with the future of international travel still in doubt.
One is international travel expert Luis Perez.
“I no longer work for the airport. It’s a sign of the times. It did not make sense to retain my services when there is no guarantee when international flights will be returning,” Mr Perez said.
Mr Perez was appointed aviation chief commercial officer in 2019 with over 20 years of experience in airline, strategy and commercial management.
His career involved air service development at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Houston Airport, Quito, Ecuador and Vancouver.
“Luis is an expert in international aviation development but we don’t see that coming back until next year,” Mr Carter said.
Also to go is the role of chief operations officer, which had been filled by Kate McCreeryCarr.
“That role does not exist in the current structure,” Mr Norris said. “We have to adapt to a smaller aviation industry.”
Two new appointments are head of infrastructure Alan Dugan and Gary Porter, who is currently the Mackay Airport general manager, to also act as head of aviation in Cairns.
Mr Carter said the airport would continue with its recovery plan and respond to changes in the industry.
“We are optimistic about domestic coming back,” Mr Norris said. “Allan Joyce expects to recover fully by financial year 2022,” Mr Norris said.
“International will be slow with airlines grounding their fleets. We have to be positive that we can bounce back as quickly as we can.”
But Transport Workers’ Union Queensland branch secretary Peter Biagini said the Qantas job cuts would “have a devastating impact on the economy and tourism in Far North Queensland”.
“Aviation workers are a key part of our tourism industry and to date have received close to zero support from the Federal Government.
“With Qantas announcing these cuts and Virgin going into administration, the future is bleak for aviation workers and tourism without Federal Government support.
“Qantas have not released details of where these jobs will come from. As soon as they do we will be working closely with our members and delegates to achieve the best outcome.”
WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO A SMALLER AVIATION INDUSTRY
NORRIS CARTER