QPC Briefing No 29 2025 – Long Haul EA Negotiations Update
The AFAP Qantas Pilot Council (QPC) has carefully reviewed and considered the proposed Long Haul (LH) offer in detail and has determined that the AFAP will not endorse the document.
The QPC’s decision was based on several factors. The AFAP proposed a number of balanced and reasonable amendments to the concessions contained in the package, aimed at minimising the impact on pilots. These proposed changes were rejected by Qantas.
The QPC’s primary concern relates to the proposed pay structure and the resulting variability in outcomes for individual pilots depending on their promotional pathway.
Under the proposed structure, any pilot changing category, including within the same aircraft type, would revert to year one of the new pay scale. This means the overall value of the deal, compared with the concessions sought by Qantas, would differ from pilot to pilot depending on their individual career progression.
When the QPC modelled a range of career pathways against a baseline 3% rollover, the analysis showed that while the proposal may represent fair value for some pilots, it may not for others.
Given the significant number of pilots likely to change category during the life of the agreement, the QPC concluded that it could not confidently endorse the offer as representing a fair and equitable outcome for all Long Haul pilots.
Instead, the QPC supports giving all LH pilots the opportunity to review the proposal and determine for themselves whether it represents a reasonable outcome.
The QPC will ensure that pilots are provided with the full details of the proposal so they can make an informed decision based on their own circumstances. The AFAP’s role is to provide balanced, evidence-based information to assist every member in making an independent and well-informed assessment.
Upcoming Explanatory Document on EA11
The QPC will shortly release a comprehensive explanatory document outlining the details of the proposed Qantas Long Haul Enterprise Agreement 11 (EA11), agreed between Qantas and AIPA. This document will assist all pilots in understanding the content and implications of the proposal.
The explanatory document will:
- Explain the mechanisms and structure of the proposed changes to the agreement;
- Outline how the pay tables and credit systems operate under the new model;
- Provide worked examples of pilot career trajectories to illustrate the potential financial outcomes across various paths and fleets; and
- Detail the procedural steps and expected timeframes following both a successful and unsuccessful vote.
This material will provide the factual foundation for pilots to make an informed decision based on their individual circumstances and priorities.
The diversity in outcomes under this proposal is driven by the combination of each pilot’s fleet, rank, and chosen career path. As a result, the AFAP has not adopted a single recommended voting position.
The most significant reform in this agreement is the introduction of a new pay structure, which produces markedly different financial results depending on each pilot’s individual circumstances. Pilots are therefore encouraged to examine how their personal career trajectory interacts with the proposed model and to weigh those outcomes against the offsets and concessions contained within the package. We have listed the majority of concessions below and will explain the pay structure in detail in the explanatory document in the coming weeks.
Summary of Key Trades in the Proposed EA11
The following trades have been agreed between Qantas and AIPA. Further details on the operation, intent, and implications of each change will be contained in the upcoming explanatory document. This list does not include the agreed pay-rises, which will be covered in detail in the upcoming document.
Contactability and Training
- Passive Contactability introduced between 15 and 9 hours before departure, in addition to the existing mandatory 15–4 call.
- Training Away from Base (TAFB): pilots located outside 200 km of a training facility in the same state will no longer be eligible for TAFB, (allowances, accommodation, or transport).
- Transfer to Short Haul (SH): following an agreed training path period, pilots back-bidding from Long Haul (LH) to SH will now move to SH EA terms and conditions.
- Sim Support: introduction of a call-out provision for simulator support duties from standby.
Rostering, Patterns and Bases
- Pattern Protection: conversion from pattern-limited to calendar day pattern protection.
- Temporary One Way Base Transfers: available for 2 BPs, awarded only, on seniority.
- Short-Line Protection: fixed pattern protection introduced to provide relief to short-line holders (details to follow in explanatory document).
- Blank-Line Holders: introduction of a 5-hour passive hour payment, or 8 hours if awarded; carers are no longer automatically excluded from holding blank lines.
Travel and Allowances
- Duty Travel:
- First Class entitlement only applies prior to roster promulgation on aircraft with more than six First Class seats;
- Otherwise, Business Class confirmed seat with F0 upgrade priority applies;
- Patterns built more than 7 days prior to departure on aircraft with more than 6 First Class seats will be confirmed First if there is space available at pattern construction.
- Introduction of a new “lie-flat” clause to prevent long-distance recliner seating (details to follow).
- Home Transport: corrected Melbourne boundary, additional Adelaide boundary, and public transport cap lifted from $55 to $75.
- Medical Leave: two pre-allocated days for medical appointments introduced.
- Simulator Scheduling: an X day to be scheduled before a simulator session following Annual Leave or Long Service Leave.
Credit, Pay and Fatigue-Related Adjustments
- 1/3 Night Credits introduced for 787 four and three-crew operations, aligning all crew complements with the A380 and A330.
- Divisors 787 MGH and planning divisor adjusted to align with legacy fleets.
- MBTT Local Night Increase following back-of-the-clock 2- and 3-crew international operations.
- Flexi-Line cap doubled to 8%, with a new month-on / month-off 50% flexi-line arrangement introduced.
- Online Training: payment of 5:30 per module, with a future additional payment threshold function.
- Offsetable Pattern Protection introduced for travel document delays.
- Removal of Appendix F in its entirety.
Further clarification items have been agreed to that do not represent material changes for pilots and will be covered in the explanatory document.
The QPC will continue to approach this process with transparency and professionalism, ensuring that every member has access to complete and balanced information before casting their vote.
Further communications will follow once the explanatory document is finalised and distributed.
Questions and Feedback
If you have any questions or feedback please contact your AFAP Qantas Pilot Council representatives at qpc@afap.org.au, or the AFAP legal and industrial team of Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Pat Larkins (patrick@afap.org.au), Senior Industrial Officer Deanna Cain (deanna@afap.org.au) or Executive Director Simon Lutton (simon@afap.org.au).
Regards,
AFAP Qantas Pilot Council
Michael Egan – Chair
Mark Gilmour – Vice-Chair
Rob Close – Secretary
Michael Armessen – Committee Member
David LaPorte – Committee Member
Josh Chalmers – Committee Member