Qantas reveals plan for engineer academy and 8,500 new high-skill jobs

antas Group expects to create over 8,500 new high skill jobs in Australian aviation over the next decade.

This announcement comes in response to growth driven by investments in new aircraft and increased flying to meet long-term demand through Qantas, Jetstar, QantasLink and Qantas Freight.

The new positions will include 1,600 pilots, 800 engineers, 4,500 cabin crew members and 1,600 airport staff.

In all, over the next ten years the total number of employees will rise from 23,500 to an estimated 32,000 in 2033.

The positive outlook is a result of Qantas’ fleet plans, which include orders and purchase rights in 2022 for up 299 narrowbody and 12 widebody aircraft for delivery over the next decade.

Only last week Qantas announced the arrival of up to 22 mid-life and wetleased aircraft in the next two years to help meet growth in sectors such as leisure and freight.

The flag carrier has also revealed details about its Qantas Group Engineering Academy in Australia which will train up to 300 engineers a year.

Over the next decade, the Qantas Group alone will need around 200 new engineering recruits every year to meet growth, as well as attrition as current engineers retire.

That number exceeds the current annual national supply of new aviation engineers, meaning a new training pipeline is needed.

The academy is expected to open in 2025 with the first fully licenced aviation engineers due to qualify in 2030.

A particular focus of the academy will be to encourage more women to consider a career as an aircraft engineer.

The location of the academy is yet to be determined.