Qantas to Stand Down Most of 30,000 Staff

Qantas jets are seen grounded at the Qantas Domestic Terminal in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 30, 2011. Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Qantas will suspended all international flights, delay its dividend payout and stand down two-thirds of its 30,000-member workforce until the end of May in the face of the escalating COVID-19 pandemic.

The national carrier, which earlier this week cut its international capacity by 90 percent, is now cutting all international flights from the end of March until at least the end of May.