QPC Briefing No 10 2026
LH EA RIN Changes & Consultation on A380 MEL RIN
As set out in our
previous Update, the AFAP identified the most significant issue in the draft LH was the omission of any Reduction in Numbers (RIN) pay band protection for non-787 fleets. This was raised directly with the Company who confirmed the omission was intentional.
As we outlined in our last Update, we reject the claim that Airbus protections can’t be added alongside the existing 787 clause.
Today Qantas advised the AFAP it has inserted the following clauses into the document that pilots will vote on:
32.4.6 A380 Captains and First Officers transferring to the A350, or A330 as the result of a reduction in numbers
Notwithstanding 32.6.1, as the result of a reduction in numbers process, if an A380 Captain or First Officer:
(a) displaces to;
(b) is redeployed to;
(c) is assigned to; or
(d) awarded a vacancy in,
the same or lower status on either the A350 or A330, a Captain or First Officer will commence at the highest Year of Service that applies in the pilot’s new category at the time they clear to line in the new category.
32.4.7 New Second Officers transferring to the A380, A350, or A330 as the result of a reduction in numbers
Notwithstanding 32.6.1, as the result of a reduction in numbers process, if a New Second Officer**:
(a) displaces to;
(b) is redeployed to;
(c) is assigned to; or
(d) awarded a vacancy in,
the same status on either the A380, A350, or A330, the New Second Officer will retain their Years of Service in their new category.
**New Second Officer is an SO who commenced from 10 October 2022. Second Officers who commenced with mainline prior to 10 October 2022 retain their existing rights.
The above improvements are welcomed, however gaps remain. Notably these provisions for Captains and First Officers are limited to A380 pilots who transfer as part of a RIN.
As highlighted in our previous comms this would not address the following practical examples:
- A year 4 787 pilot displaced in an A380 RIN to the A330 would move to year 1 on the A330
- A year 4 A330 captain demoted to an FO on the A380 in a RIN would move to year 1 FO A380.
While the above represents an improvement its does not provide pay protection for all pilots regardless of fleet. On that basis our concerns with the inadequacy of the RIN clauses in the proposed EA11 remain.
15-4 Call
In addition as outlined in our previous Update, the AFAP team identified concerns around the flexibility of the Company to make changes between 15 and 9 hours to the departure time. Our primary concern was the ability for the company to continuously ‘roll’ departure time. Our suggested solution was that the 9 hour passive contact window would be anchored to original departure time. This suggested solution was dismissed.
Today Qantas has also advised of the following:
With reference to RM57 and the 15 to 4 call obligation: the Company clarifies and confirms that the departure time cannot be rolled further than 9-hours prior to the original departure time accepted in the original 15-4 contact obligation.
This statement is aligned with an email from Qantas to the AFAP in November last year (after the in principle agreement) confirming this position in writing. However, the AFAP preference remains that the words are included in the clause, which would enshrine these protections as a term of the EA.
Summary
While The QPC welcomes the Company’s improvement to its previous hardline position on the RIN provisions in EA11, for the reasons above it has not addressed our concerns in full.
These improvements followed sustained, visible pressure from pilots and written feedback to their Unions and management, clearly indicating that the current proposal would not be accepted. This shows that when pilots act collectively, the Company moves to make beneficial changes to the current proposal to benefit pilots.
There are further deficiencies in EA11, and further movement by the Company will depend on continued direct pilot advocacy and a clear, collective position on the vote. Keep an eye out for our upcoming communications regarding blank lines.
Voting Timeline
Qantas has advised it intends to provide the AFAP with a final version of the agreement later today and that it is planning on proceeding to a vote on the following timeline:
A380 MEL RIN Consultation Meeting
Today an AFAP QPC pilot representative and AFAP Senior Legal/ Industrial Officer Pat Larkins attended a further consultation meeting regarding the RIN for Melbourne A380 pilots.
The primary issues were the Company refusing to:
- provide relocation expenses (and as a subset of that commuting assistance) for pilots who elected to move to SYD based A380 positions in rank; and
- allow for redeployment based on a pilots seniority to vacant positions on other fleets as part of the RIN process.
Relocation Expenses
Qantas confirmed its position that because positions are available in rank on the B787 in Melbourne then pilots are not “required to transfer” to Sydney due to the RIN for the purposes of clause 18.1.14. Qantas recognised it was offering lower paid positions but did not regard this as triggering a requirement to pay relocation expenses under the Company Staff Transfer Policy.
Qantas further confirmed that while it acknowledged that pilots transferring to Sydney will incur costs to either move or commute, because it did not have an obligation to pay for relocation expenses it had not considered offering a commuting package.
The AFAP advised our position was any pilot relocating to Sydney was doing so because of the RIN and we would support disputes if they arose to reclaim relocation expenses.
Our advice to members is if your preference is to move to Sydney in rank on the A380 and you wish to lock this position in by April 13, then write to the Company (send to your base manager) advising of a dispute over the application of clause 18.1.14 as you have elected to take this position because of the RIN. Please also cc the AFAP on the details below.
Pilots in taking this option should note we simply cannot guarantee the success of this dispute as it will need to be determined by a court or tribunal given Qantas has indicated it will hold firm on its position.
Redeployment to vacant B787 positions
A number of AFAP members have advised they hold the seniority for a position in a higher rank. For example SOs hold seniority for vacant B787 MEL FO positions.
Pilots are not expecting to take these positions out of seniority, and having these awarded through the annual allocation is not the AFAP’s issue. The AFAP also accepts the displacement provisions in clause 18.1.13(e)(iii) only allow for a pilot to displace to a higher rank if they will otherwise be demoted to a lower rank or terminated.
The AFAP issue is whether the RIN protections will apply to pilots accessing vacant positions on the B787 (including in a higher rank) using their seniority, which include freeze waiver and level 4 pay (for the B787) under clause 32.5.6.
Qantas confirmed today, that any positions awarded out of the annual allocation would be subject to a freeze and its waiver of a freeze was limited to pilots moving in rank to the B787 or displacing to the A330 in rank.
Qantas was unable to confirm its view on the application of clause 32.5.6 to a pilot accessing a B787 position either as a redeployment in rank or in the annual allocations. The clause provides that level 4 B787 pay will apply if a pilot is required to move to the B787 in a RIN including if a pilot is displaced, assigned, redeployed or awarded a vacancy.
Qantas said this was the first time this issue had been raised and it would come back to the AFAP urgently.
The position for RIN’d pilots has been confused further by the RIN not ending until 7 September 2026 meaning in the AFAP view, the rights under clause 32.5.6 will continue to apply until this point. On that basis a pilot awarded a B787 position based on seniority from the annual allocation would be entitled under the level 4 pay.
Qantas undertook to take these further questions on notice.
Summary
The AFAP reiterated our preference would be for pilots to be provided certainty of these options to make an informed decision as early as possible. If relocation and commuting are offered then pilots who want to go to Sydney can lock this in and begin planning with their families.
This will also avoid a legal dispute, which while Qantas may win, represents a significant departure for the principle of base closures which is to mitigate the impact on pilots forced top upend their lives as far as possible. While the circumstances are not identical, Qantas has recently offered other group pilots commuting assistance and relocation for base closures beyond the requirements of an EA.
We impressed upon Qantas that disrupting someone’s life in Melbourne will have a major impact on them not only financially but in their personal life. Further it is simply impossible for some pilots to move due to caring responsibilities as a single parent and commuting arrangements are entirely reasonable in these circumstances even for a defined period. Qantas’ representatives agreed with these points but said its position was not changing.
In terms of moving to the B787, a SO moving to FO would mitigate the financial impact of the transfer in fleet, remove the need for relocation expenses, and they would only be accessing a position using their seniority. Clause 32.5.6 in our view is clearly intended to operate in these circumstances.
The AFAP are concerned that if the provisions operate in this way this opens this process will be used for future base closures (including on other fleets) as these clauses remain unchanged in the proposed new EA (even after the clauses added today).
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
Rob Gilmour – Committee Member