Qantas’ long haul ‘Project Sunrise’ ambitions have cleared an important hurdle after reaching an agreement with pilots.
The two sides had reached a stalemate over pay and ‘productivity benefits’ but the current coronavirus crisis has seemingly led to a compromise.
"This is an incredibly uncertain time for our members, with many stood down from flying on no pay, with no end in sight. When we return to flying, our pilots will be at the helm as part of Qantas’ ultra long-haul services," Australian and International Pilots Association president Mark Sedgwick wrote in an email.
There is still uncertainty about when Sydney to London and New York direct flights will begin due to the covid-19 outbreak.
"The extraordinary circumstances facing aviation has seen Airbus agree to extend the deadline on our decision to purchase the A350s so we can focus on navigating the coronavirus crisis," Qantas chief pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said in a memo to employees.
Qantas plans to buy up to 12 adapted A350-1000 jets to fly the world’s longest nonstop routes.
For now, the disruption caused by the covid-19 pandemic is the main focus.
Qantas has stood down about two-thirds of its workforce
