QantasLink Closing Crew Bases Sparks Union and Political Backlash

QantasLink, the regional airline within the Qantas Group, has announced plans to close its pilot and cabin crew bases in Hobart (HBA), Canberra (CBR), and Mildura (MQL) by April 2026.

Despite these closures, flight operations to and from these cities will remain unaffected.

Approximately 70 employees currently stationed at these bases will be forced to relocate to larger hubs in Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), and Brisbane (BNE).

The move aims to centralize crew operations at major airports, enhancing operational reliability and enabling a more effective response to disruptions across QantasLink’s regional network.

In addition, the airline plans to expand its fleet, as numerous new aircraft are scheduled to join over the coming years, adding more routes and increasing flight frequencies.

To ease the transition, QantasLink will provide a support package to affected staff, including assistance with commuting or relocation expenses such as flights and accommodations.

However, Australia’s Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) strongly opposes the closures, as it worries that affected staff will consider leaving their jobs if the plans proceed. The union accuses Qantas of prioritizing profits over people, arguing the company forces staff to choose between their families and careers.

Australia’s Transport Minister Catherine King called on Qantas to reconsider the decision, and Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie described the closures as “a terrible blow for staff” who have families and community ties in the region.

This news follows a series of challenging incidents for Qantas this year, including a $59 million fine imposed in August for mass job cuts during the pandemic and a June cyberattack that compromised the data of nearly 6 million customers, resulting in a significant 15 percent cut to executive performance bonuses.

Photo by Winston Tjia on Unsplash