Qantas to Outsource 850 Corporate Jobs to Accenture, Most Roles to Be Shifted to India

Australian airline Qantas has announced plans to outsource 850 corporate positions to consulting firm Accenture as part of a broader restructuring of its business operations. According to an email sent to employees on Tuesday, most of the services covered under the agreement will be delivered from India, while some roles will continue to be based in Australia.

The development comes alongside Qantas' confirmation that it will cut nearly 1,000 jobs, with some of the reductions involving mass redundancies. The outsourcing arrangement is expected to reshape the airline's corporate workforce and operating structure.

Qantas and Accenture to Redesign Corporate Operations

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said the airline would work jointly with Accenture to redesign and simplify its corporate functions. She acknowledged that the announcement would be difficult news for some employees affected by the changes.

The partnership is aimed at restructuring corporate operations, with a significant portion of the outsourced services expected to be handled from India. However, some positions will remain in Australia as part of the new operating arrangement.

AI Adoption and Rising Costs Add to Restructuring Pressures

The announcement has also been linked in reports to the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and increasing pressure from fuel costs. These factors are adding to the broader changes taking place across the aviation industry, where companies are reviewing operational efficiency and business expenses.

The restructuring announcement comes after Qantas reported a net profit of A$1.3 billion, highlighting the scale of the workforce changes despite the airline's reported profitability.

Qantas Has Previously Announced Large-Scale Outsourcing

This is not the first time Qantas has announced plans to outsource a significant part of its operations. In 2020, the airline revealed plans to outsource its Australian ground-handling operations, putting up to 2,500 jobs at risk.

The latest agreement with Accenture marks another major outsourcing move by the airline, with India expected to play a central role in delivering the services covered under the arrangement.