Qantas to outsource 850 local jobs with most roles moving to India

What the report says

Qantas said it will outsource 850 corporate jobs as part of a new agreement with consulting firm Accenture, with most of the work shifting to India and some remaining in Australia. The move, reported by BBC World News, is tied to the airline’s push to modernise its IT systems and expand the use of automation and artificial intelligence. The affected roles are expected to begin changing from mid-2027.

According to the BBC, chief executive Vanessa Hudson told staff in an internal email that the decision was difficult and apologised for the uncertainty. The cuts are set to affect areas including finance, procurement, people and marketing. Hudson said the airline was trying to simplify duplicated processes and upgrade technology that has built up over decades.

Qantas said it spends more than AU$1bn a year on technology and described the Accenture deal as part of a broader effort to make its operations more efficient. The company also said some employees may be redeployed, including into new roles in Australia, where possible.

The announcement comes shortly after Qantas flagged fare increases and flight reductions in a separate market update linked to higher fuel costs. More broadly, the case reflects how large companies are restructuring back-office work as AI tools spread, although the BBC report did not say how many jobs will ultimately be lost beyond the 850 roles identified.