Qantas Group's technology deal with Accenture will shift some corporate services to teams in India and Australia, with roughly 850 positions potentially affected as the airline updates its systems and expands artificial intelligence.
Most services moving under the multiyear agreement are expected to be handled by Accenture employees in India, Qantas said, with some work based in Australia. The airline said automation and artificial intelligence (AI) may also change how the work is done over time.
Qantas estimates the plan could affect about 850 roles across the group over several years. It has not disclosed how many positions will be eliminated, move to Accenture or be filled through redeployment. The company says it will speak with affected employees and unions before deciding individual outcomes. It will seek suitable internal roles where possible, including new positions in Australia, and provide retraining and other support.
Qantas described the initiative as covering parts of its corporate functions. Reuters reported that the first stage would include workers in finance, procurement, human resources and marketing.
The airline said its systems include more than 1,000 older applications with limited integration. Accenture will invest upfront to speed work on Qantas' data platforms, the airline said, but it did not disclose a dollar amount. Qantas says the project aims to simplify its systems, broaden AI use and improve connections across customer services.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson called the announcement “difficult news for some of our people.”
The Guardian reported that Australian Services Union Assistant National Secretary Scott Cowen argued that employees who have sustained the airline should not absorb the burden of its technology changes.
A separate outsourcing dispute provides recent context. In 2023, Australia's High Court unanimously dismissed Qantas' appeal over contracting out ground-handling work at 10 airports. That case concerned a different workforce and plan.
Qantas expects initial changes by mid-2027, with consultations preceding decisions about individual roles.
