 Qantas says it must cut costs to compete |
Australia's flagship carrier Qantas has warned that it might move jobs off-shore unless workers agree to changing working practices. At least 3,000 engineering and aircraft maintenance jobs could be at risk.
Trade unions responded to the plan by vowing to fight for Australian jobs, but Qantas chief Geoff Dixon urged workers to be more flexible.
"If we cannot... make the business globally competitive, we will have to pursue the alternative," he said.
"Maintenance Repair Operations for airlines are changing rapidly throughout the world, with a big push towards scale and lower cost locations."
These could be in Asia, North America or elsewhere in Australia, he said.
Air New Zealand is thinking along similar lines.
There, about 600 jobs are on the line if the carrier goes ahead with a similar plan to shift aircraft and engine maintenance work off-shore.
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