Qantas airline has been fined A$90m by an Australian court for unlawfully dismissing around 1,700 ground staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the penalty aims to serve as a “real deterrence” to other employers, BBC reported.
The airline had outsourced its ground operations in 2020, citing financial necessity as the aviation industry stalled. The Transport Workers’ Union welcomed the ruling, describing it as the largest employer penalty in Australia and a victory for loyal workers. Qantas must pay A$50m of the fine directly to the union.
According to BBC, this penalty is in addition to A$120m in compensation the airline agreed to pay affected staff in 2024 after losing multiple appeals.
