Qantas plans to cut 850 jobs in Australia and move some corporate work to India through a new partnership with Accenture, as the airline accelerates its investment in artificial intelligence and technology modernisation. The changes will affect around 3% of its 28,000-strong Australian workforce, with the first phase expected to take effect by mid-2027.
The restructuring will initially affect corporate functions including finance, procurement, human resources and marketing. Some services will be transferred to Accenture teams based mainly in India, while other work will remain in Australia or be transformed through automation and AI. Qantas says the partnership will help simplify its operations and modernise more than 1,000 legacy applications.
Key Takeaways
- Qantas expects around 850 Australian roles to be affected over the coming years.
- The changes will begin with finance, procurement, human resources and marketing functions.
- Some corporate services will move to Accenture teams, primarily in India.
- The first phase of the restructuring is expected to be implemented by mid-2027.
- Qantas plans to modernise more than 1,000 legacy applications and expand its use of AI.
- The airline says it will explore redeployment, retraining and other support for affected employees.
Why Is Qantas Cutting 850 Jobs in Australia?
Qantas is restructuring parts of its corporate operations as it attempts to simplify internal processes, reduce duplication and accelerate its technology transformation.
The airline operates with technology systems accumulated over several decades. According to Qantas, it has more than 1,000 legacy applications that were not originally designed to work together.
These disconnected systems can make it harder to share information, automate processes and introduce new digital services across the organisation. Qantas wants to modernise its technology infrastructure and connect its data platforms to support more integrated operations.
The airline has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with Accenture to help deliver this transformation. The agreement covers back-end systems, business processes and data infrastructure.
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson described the decision as part of the airline’s response to rapid changes in technology and AI. She said the company needs to redesign how work is performed so that its operations become simpler and more connected.
The restructuring is therefore not limited to reducing employee numbers. It also involves changing how several corporate departments operate and how technology supports their work.
Which Qantas Departments Will Be Affected?
The first phase of the restructuring will focus on corporate functions rather than directly targeting the airline’s frontline operational workforce.
| Department | Expected impact |
|---|---|
| Finance | Some services may move to Accenture teams |
| Procurement | Processes will be redesigned and simplified |
| Human resources | Corporate services will be restructured |
| Marketing | Some work will be transferred or reorganised |
| Other corporate functions | Further changes may take place over the coming years |
The airline has not publicly identified every individual position that will be eliminated or transferred. Qantas says it will consult affected employees and unions before determining individual outcomes.
The company has also indicated that some work will remain in Australia, while other services will be delivered by Accenture teams in India.
This distinction is important: the announcement does not mean all 850 positions are simply being transferred to India. The total number represents roles expected to be affected by the broader restructuring, which includes outsourcing, organisational changes and further automation.
Why Is Qantas Moving Corporate Work to India?
India has become a major destination for global companies seeking technology, business-process and digital transformation capabilities.
For Qantas, the Accenture partnership provides access to a large international workforce with experience in technology, data management, business operations and AI implementation.
Instead of building every capability internally, the airline can use Accenture’s existing teams and technology resources to support the transformation.
India’s established IT services industry also gives international companies access to professionals across finance operations, procurement, human resources, software development, analytics and customer support.
Accenture has a substantial presence in India, making the country an important part of its global delivery network.
For Qantas, the arrangement is intended to help it modernise more quickly while changing the cost structure and delivery model of selected corporate services.
However, the decision also highlights the employment consequences of global outsourcing. Work previously performed by Australian employees may increasingly be handled by teams in other countries or supported by automated systems.
How Artificial Intelligence Fits Into the Restructuring
Artificial intelligence is a central part of Qantas’s technology strategy.
The airline believes AI and automation can change how businesses manage information, process requests and coordinate internal operations. Modernising its back-end systems is intended to create the connected data infrastructure needed to use these technologies more effectively.
AI could support several corporate activities, including:
- Finance: Automating routine data processing, reporting and reconciliation.
- Procurement: Supporting supplier analysis, purchasing workflows and administrative processes.
- Human resources: Assisting with employee queries, document processing and internal services.
- Marketing: Supporting customer analysis, campaign operations and reporting.
- Data management: Connecting information across departments and reducing repetitive work.
These are potential areas of application, rather than a confirmed list of tasks Qantas has said will be fully automated.
The company has also said that some services will move to Accenture and may be transformed further through automation and AI over time.
This means the restructuring combines two changes: shifting selected services to an external technology partner and redesigning the processes themselves around newer technology.
What Happens to the 850 Affected Employees?
The announcement creates uncertainty for employees across Qantas’s corporate departments.
CEO Vanessa Hudson acknowledged that the news would be difficult for some workers and said the decision did not reflect their contribution or commitment to the airline.
Qantas has said it will explore opportunities to redeploy affected employees into other positions across the group. It also plans to provide reskilling, retraining and ongoing support where possible.
The airline highlighted that it continues to create roles in Australia, including positions connected to its operational activities and technology investments.
However, the company has not confirmed how many affected employees will receive alternative positions or how many will ultimately leave the organisation.
Consultations with employees and their unions are expected to continue before individual outcomes are finalised.
The first wave of changes is expected to be in place by mid-2027, while the wider restructuring will take place over several years.
Qantas Is Also Investing in Its Australian Operations
The restructuring comes as Qantas prepares for a major investment cycle across its airline operations.
The company says it is investing more than A$1 billion annually in technology. It is also developing its Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide, which is expected to grow to more than 400 roles.
Qantas has highlighted that thousands of employees already use AI tools in their daily work.
The airline is also undertaking the largest fleet renewal programme in its history. It added 17 aircraft during the previous financial year and expected up to 31 additional aircraft to arrive in the following year, according to its earlier announcements.
These investments show that the company is changing several parts of its business simultaneously: its aircraft fleet, technology infrastructure, customer experience and corporate operating model.
However, investment in new Australian roles does not necessarily replace the specific corporate positions affected by the outsourcing agreement. The types of jobs, locations and required skills may be different.
Australia’s Wider Offshoring Trend
Qantas is not the only major Australian company considering overseas delivery models for selected business functions.
Companies including Woolworths, Officeworks, Telstra and National Australia Bank have also announced offshoring-related changes during 2026, according to Reuters.
These decisions reflect a broader corporate focus on operational efficiency, access to international talent and the use of technology to redesign business processes.
For companies, outsourcing can provide access to specialist capabilities without requiring them to recruit and maintain every team internally. It can also allow businesses to standardise processes across different locations.
For employees, however, the same changes can create uncertainty about job security, career development and the future location of corporate work.
The growing adoption of AI adds another dimension. Businesses are not only deciding where work should be performed but also which tasks should continue to be performed by people and which can be automated.
The Bigger Picture
Qantas’s announcement illustrates how AI adoption is increasingly connected to decisions about corporate employment, outsourcing and business operations. The airline is using its partnership with Accenture to address legacy technology systems while changing how selected departments deliver their services.
For India, the agreement reinforces the country’s position as a major destination for global business-process and technology services. However, the announcement should not be interpreted as 850 new jobs being created in India: Qantas has disclosed that some work will move to Accenture teams, mostly in India, but has not specified the exact number of positions involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many jobs is Qantas cutting in Australia?
Qantas expects around 850 roles to be affected over the coming years. This represents approximately 3% of its 28,000-strong Australian workforce.
2. Why is Qantas shifting corporate roles to India?
Qantas has partnered with Accenture to modernise its back-end systems, simplify corporate processes and access technology, data and AI expertise. Some services will be delivered mainly by Accenture teams in India.
3. Which departments will be affected?
The first phase will affect finance, procurement, human resources and marketing, along with other corporate functions as the programme progresses.
4. When will the Qantas job cuts begin?
The first wave of changes is expected to be in place by mid-2027. The wider restructuring will take place over several years.
5. Is artificial intelligence replacing Qantas employees?
AI and automation are part of the airline’s transformation strategy, but the announcement also involves outsourcing and organisational restructuring. Qantas has not said that all 850 affected positions are being directly replaced by AI.
6. Which company is partnering with Qantas?
Qantas has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with Accenture to modernise its back-end systems, processes and data infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
The next stage of the Qantas restructuring will depend on consultations with employees and unions, the identification of affected positions and the implementation of the Accenture partnership. The airline will also need to demonstrate that its new operating model can deliver the expected improvements without disrupting essential corporate and airline services.
For India’s IT and business-process services industry, the agreement highlights continuing demand from international companies looking for technology expertise and large-scale delivery capabilities. At the same time, the announcement raises broader questions about how AI, automation and outsourcing will reshape corporate employment across global industries.
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