Qantas Faces Millions in Penalties After Losing ‘Test Case’ Over COVID-Era Sackings

The national carrier will need to pay penalties for the COVID-era decision to stand down 1,700 workers.

A photo taken on June 26, 2024 shows the vertical stabiliser of a Qantas Boeing 737-800 aircraft painted in heritage livery (background C) seen past other Qantas planes parked at a terminal at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images

Australia’s national air carrier faces what could be a compensation bill running into the tens of millions after losing an employment case in the courts.

Last year, the High Court ruled that the airline broke the law when it stood down 1,700 ground crew members in August 2020, and the Federal Court has on Oct. 21 awarded $170,000 in compensation to three workers in what were test cases.