Qantas asks its executives to work as baggage handlers at airports
Australian airline Qantas has asked its top executives to work as baggage handlers at airports, handling baggage for three months.
This is an attempt to buy time to resolve the severe labor shortage it faces in this area.
The company’s chief operating officer revealed that he is looking for at least 100 volunteers to work at the Sydney and Melbourne airports.
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Duties include loading and unloading bags, as well as driving vehicles to move luggage around the terminals.
Like much of the global airline industry, Qantas is struggling to resume services as borders reopen.
“High levels of winter flu and an increase in Covid-19 in the community, coupled with a tight supply in the job market, make resourcing challenging across our industry,” Qantas COO Colin Hughes told the BBC via email.
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Hughes, in his communication, assured that the company “does not expect” executives to exercise these functions alongside theirs full time.
Managers and executives who agree to work as baggage handlers will do so for three to five days a week, in shifts of four to six hours a day.
However, not everyone can act as a porter and the airline wants applicants to be in good physical condition, as they must be able to move suitcases weighing up to 32 kg each.
“It is clear to us that our performance has not met our customers’ expectations or the standards we expect of ourselves, although we have been doing everything we can to improve our features,” a Qantas spokesman said.
“As we did in the previous peak season, around 200 head office employees have assisted at airports during the busiest periods since Easter,” he added.
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