QANTAS ASKS FORMER CREW TO RETURN … FOR LESS
QANTAS has embarked on a recruitment drive targeting the 1500 cabin crew who left during the pandemic – but on lower pay and with worse conditions.
The move comes as the airline continues to ramp up operations post-Covid-19, with one new aircraft joining the Qantas group every three weeks on average.
In an email to former crew, executive manager Leeanne Langridge said they were now recruiting and training “more cabin crew than ever”, with more than 1500 expected to join this year.
In an email to former staff, Ms Langridge says: “As an experienced former cabin crew member, we are reaching out to you to see if you are interested in being part of Qantas’ next chapter.”
Flight Attendants Association of Australia national secretary Teri O’Toole said it was encouraging to see that Qantas recognised the depth of experience lost with the 1500 crew who left the company around Covid-19.
“Of course we’re not happy that these crew come back on lesser conditions and pay than when they left, but some cabin crew are dedicated to the role and miss their colleagues, and will want to come back,” she said.
“We have the best crew in the world in Australia and we think this is a brilliant initiative to bring them back.”
Former customer service manager Greg, who did not want his surname used, said he spent 27 years with the airline before taking the decision to leave at the height of the pandemic.
“It was just too unstable, not knowing what you were going to be doing week after week, month after month,” he said, adding that he was ready to return even though he knew he would not be paid what he was before.
“It is what it is. I just haven’t felt quite the same fit in my new role,” he said.
“Nothing compares to putting on that Qantas uniform and representing the airline.”