New era for Qantas flights, but at the cost of 35 jobs

THE tourism sector is celebrating extra flights to the state and a new Hobart-based airline crew, but it comes at the expense of 35 Qantas jobs.

THE tourism sector is celebrating extra flights to the state and a new Hobart-based airline crew, but it comes at the expense of 35 Qantas jobs.

The carrier yesterday announced plans to increase flights to Sydney and Melbourne on new Boeing 717 jets, to be operated by local cabin crew and pilots.

But the news was accompanied by plans to cut 35 ground crew jobs, which would be outsourced to contract workers.

It comes as the Federal Government yesterday reconfirmed its commitment to a $38 million Hobart airport upgrade, to increase the length of the runway.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said it would be the first time in more than a decade an airline crew would be based in Hobart, with Qantas set to locally recruit 30 cabin crew and 15 pilots for its new Qantaslink Boeing 717 jets.

He said the move was likely to result in an early-morning flight to Melbourne, set to impress business travellers.

"The fact the services will fly under the QantasLink brand is not cause for concern, as the QantasLink services into Launceston and the North-West Coast have proven to be very popular and successful," he said.

"Indeed most travellers will be pleased with these new services, as they will offer the full on-board Qantas experience in new modern jet planes, while their connections and booking process through the Qantas network will not alter."

But federal Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said the job cuts would have a major impact on Tasmania's "soft" economy.

He said the move represented a downgrading of Qantas' commitment to the state.

"It's not good enough for Qantas to say that local staff can hopefully pick up jobs as the sub-contractors, because if they do there will be without doubt a reduction in their conditions of service," he said.

Mr Wilkie said it was a sign of the financial stress the airline was under, as it struggled to compete with internationally-owned competitors.

"This is another symbol of an airline in strife and it's another wake-up call to the Federal Government to intervene to take a financial stake in the airline and to help Qantas compete more effectively."

A Qantas spokeswoman said the smaller Boeing 717 jets would replace a mix of propeller and jet services from the middle of April.

"We understand this is a difficult time for impacted employees and we will be supporting them throughout the process," she said.

But Australian Services Union assistant secretary Igor Gratton slammed the move and said staff had suggested a range of alternative cost-savings in a bid to save their jobs.

"This decision means many hard-working employees will lose their jobs and leave loyal customers in the hands of a Qantas subsidiary and contracted ground staff," he said.