Qantas will cut more than 850 jobs over the next few years as part of a major overhaul of corporate operations, with some work due to be outsourced to India. 

The decision was confirmed in Qantas Group’s announcement that the company had struck a deal with technology consulting firm Accenture. 

It said the changes are in response to the ‘pace of change in technology and AI globally’, which is transforming what customers expect and how people do their jobs. 

‘We know this [the job losses] will be difficult news for some of our people and this decision is not a reflection of their contribution or commitment,’ Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson said on Tuesday.

‘We need to reinvent the processes, platforms and data behind our business so we can innovate faster and deliver a better, more connected experience for our customers and our people. 

‘That means fundamentally redesigning how the work behind our airline gets done, so it is simpler, more connected and keeps getting better, with automation and AI built in from the start.’

The first wave of changes is expected to be in place by mid-2027. 

The process is due to affect staff working in finance, procurement, human resources and marketing.

Qantas will cut more than 850 jobs over the next few years as part of a major corporate overhaul that includes outsourcing work to India. Pictured, a Qantas plane at Sydney Airport

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson (pictured) outlined the changes in an email to company staff on Tuesday

Qantas will begin the consultation process with employees and their union over the coming months, and said individual outcomes ‘have not been determined’. 

‘We will look to redeploy as many people as possible, with retraining, reskilling and opportunities elsewhere across the group, including through the creation of new roles here in Australia,’ Ms Hudson said in an email to staff, seen by The Australian.

The multi-year partnership with Accenture forms part of Qantas Group’s annual $1billion investment in technology. 

Its ‘Innovation Centre’ in Adelaide is forecast to grow to more than 400 roles, and thousands of employees are already using AI tools in their daily work, the airline said.

The group has opened 4,400 new operational roles since 2023 and expects to hire additional staff across its operational divisions. 

The announcement comes a day after Boeing revealed plans to cut five per cent of its commercial aircraft workforce. 

The roles will be cut through a combination of layoffs and ‘attrition’ due to a slower transition to give factories and supply chain partners more time to ‘achieve stability’, according to commercial chief Stephanie Pope.

‘Adjusting our production schedules and reducing aircraft output puts us in an overstaffed position,’ she said on Monday.