Dixon places staff on notice

Qantas will eliminate 1,000 management and administration jobs by the end of the year as part of a cost- cutting drive to counter record fuel prices.

“We have decided to reduce management, support and administration positions in Qantas by 20 percent,” Chief Executive Officer Geoff Dixon said in a letter to staff yesterday. “We will continue to explore every avenue to reduce our costs further to ensure our profitability and growth.”

Dixon is seeking to cut costs by A$3 billion by cutting jobs, reducing agent commissions, switching to more fuel-efficient planes and using discount carrier Jetstar on low-profit holiday routes.

In March, the airline said it will cut 480 maintenance jobs at its Sydney base and shift work to Melbourne and Brisbane. Qantas employed 35,158 people at the end of 2005.

The impending cull of administrative jobs means Dixon will have trimmed about 2,100 staff in the 18 months ending Dec. 31, 2006.