Qantas was hit with a record fine of A$90 million ($59m) for illegally firing nearly 2,000 workers.
An Australian court imposed the fine – the largest ever for breaching industrial relations laws.
Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the fine should act as a real deterrent to employers.
“We sincerely apologise to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result,” Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said.
The airline fired the workers during the pandemic and then outsourced their jobs to save on wage costs.
“The decision to outsource five years ago, particularly during such an uncertain time, caused genuine hardship for many of our former team and their families.”
Australia’s biggest airline has been embroiled in a years-long legal battle with the transport workers’ union and former employees.
It has severely damaged the airline’s reputation as a result.
Judge Lee cited the airline’s ‘unrelenting and aggressive’ legal maneuvers to avoid paying compensation and doubted Qantas’ remorse over its actions.
