Domestic pilots, cabin crew gain access to Covid-19 support payments

Domestic airline crew will gain access to Covid support payments of $750 a week, in an extension of federal government assistance for the aviation industry.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and, right, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dylan Coker

Domestic airline crew will gain access to Covid support payments of $750 a week, in an extension of federal government assistance for the aviation industry.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced a range of measures to “keep domestic aviation ready for takeoff” including assistance to retain workforce capability.

He said the decision to limit assistance to flight and cabin crew outside of hot spots, was due to the importance of the aviation industry in keeping Australia’s economy going.

“This is a crucial sector of the economy, it’s crucial to keep the sovereign airline capacity. It’s crucial that as soon as the economy opens up that this sector of the economy is up and running and able to deliver,” said Mr Joyce.

“(But) we have to make sure there is an element of prudence. The government cannot keep on borrowing money forever. We need to keep it as targeted and as precise as possible.”

Initially 50 per cent of pilots and cabin crew would be eligible for the $750 a week payment, providing airlines could show their revenue was down at least 30 per cent.

“If the crisis goes on then we have the capacity to scale up to more than 50 per cent of employees who are aircrew, we’re talking about pilots and flight attendants,” said Mr Joyce.

Airlines quickly welcomed the assistance, and the extension of key programs subsidising domestic and regional flights until the year’s end.

A half-price airfare initiative set to end in September was also extended until November, in recognition of the fact many cheap seats were sold on flights cancelled by airlines, due to city lockdowns and border closures.

Qantas called the support “much appreciated, given the acute challenges facing the sector”.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the support for services and crew was “essential” as they continued to navigate the most challenging period in aviation history.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with the Deputy Prime Minister and the federal government to maintain stability in our workforce and remain responsive to adding significant capacity when borders are open, which is economically critical to Australia’s future,” said Ms Hrdlicka.

Unions were unimpressed however, calling on the government to extend the assistance to all aviation workers.

Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said lockdowns affected all aviation workers from check-in staff to caterers, not just some cabin crew and pilots.

“A wage subsidy cannot cover 50 per cent of just some workers,” he said.

Mr Kaine also took aim at the extension of domestic and regional flight subsidies, and the cheap flights scheme “at a time when a sizeable portion of Australians could not even leave their homes”.

“It is unclear what has happened to funding that has already gone to flights which people weren’t able to take,” said Mr Kaine.

“Aviation needs a serious strategy not policy on the hop.”

Australian Services Union assistant secretary Emeline Gaske said the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement was confusing to workers.

“Who is in and who is out Mr Joyce?” she asked.

“If you’re including flight attendants, but not the people who check in passengers and ground crew, on what planet can you rationalise that? Ground crew are 100 per cent as affected by the crisis as pilots and flight attendants and are equally in-need of support.”

The government announcement followed a warning from Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce that the airline would again have to stand down staff without pay, if current low levels of flying persisted.

In June more than 9000 domestic flights were cancelled as a result of lockdowns and border closures, including 5000 by Qantas and Jetstar.

In June more than 9000 domestic flights were cancelled as a result of lockdowns and border closures, including 5000 by Qantas and Jetstar. Picture: Emma Brasier

Originally published as Domestic pilots, cabin crew gain access to Covid-19 support payments