Qantas Airways to pay A$90 million for sacking staff during COVID-19 Pandemic

Qantas Airways has been ordered to pay A$90 million ($58 million) for illegally sacking 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal Court Judge Michael Lee criticized the airline for a lack of genuine remorse, stating that their expressions of regret appeared more about corporate damage than concern for the affected workers.

The penalty, the largest for a company under Australia’s labor laws, will see A$50 million go to the Transport Workers' Union (TWU). Qantas initially laid off staff to shift work to contractors, which the court deemed a violation of the Fair Work Act.

Judge Lee disapproved of Qantas's litigation strategy and culture, emphasizing that their public apologies were not enough. The airline has expressed a commitment to pay the fine and apologized to the affected employees.