The airline claims the shift will strengthen its ability to respond to delays and other disruptions, however around 70 staff may be required to move, some only months after being relocated during earlier restructures.
The Hobart, Canberra and Mildura bases currently support dozens of pilots and cabin crew, although they are not expected to expand. In contrast, Qantas sees its operations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as more scalable and better equipped to manage disruptions. The airline argues that consolidating in major centres supports faster recovery from operational issues, something regional bases have limited capacity to handle.
Qantas says no flights will be cancelled due to the changes, and affected employees will receive support if relocation is necessary. Despite this, the plan is meeting strong opposition from unions representing staff who argue the decision continues a pattern of disadvantaging regional workers, similar to the previous closures in Cairns and Perth. Critics say Qantas is placing logistics ahead of its people, particularly in regional areas.
Qantas appears to be pursuing broader operational changes as well. Its regional arm, QantasLink, intends to merge three of its Air Operator Certificates into one, bringing National Jet Services, Eastern and Sunstate operations under a single structure. Internal communications suggest this will help streamline management and enhance efficiency without affecting employment conditions.
Although Qantas presents this review as an investment in service improvement and long-term regional development, unions argue constant restructuring generates lasting uncertainty for regional staff and their communities. With the recent administration of airlines such as Rex and Bonza already disrupting regional travel, this decision is intensifying concerns about the future of rural air services.
