QPC Briefing No. 29 2026
EA11 Negotiations Update - Revised Company Package
As members are aware, 66% of pilots voted No to the first EA11 proposal, sending a clear message to Qantas that the original proposal was not good enough.
This strong rejection by pilots coupled with the high level of engagement through the subsequent survey process, has given your AFAP team a clear mandate to pursue a better deal.
In response to that feedback, Qantas has now outlined in writing the broad shape of a revised EA11 package.
As detailed in our update earlier this week, the AFAP was briefed by Qantas on the key elements of this revised EA11 package. In addition to that briefing, Qantas undertook to provide a written package setting out the details of the amended proposal before the end of the business week.
That revised package has now been provided. However, it omits several critical details, including the final pay tables, which are fundamental to assessing the merits and overall value of the package.
We have written to Qantas requesting that this detail be provided. Once received, the AFAP will carefully assess the proposal, including all associated remuneration outcomes, before providing members with a comprehensive update and assessment of the amended package
High-Level Summary of the Revised Qantas Proposal
While the proposal remains incomplete, Qantas’ written package identifies a number of proposed changes from the rejected April EA11 proposal.
At a high level, the revised package includes the following:
- A significantly modified pay structure, including retention of the current 12-year pay scales for A330 and A380 Captains, First Officers and legacy Second Officers;
- Alignment of the A350 pay structure with the B787 (including Night Credits, AFDP, MGH, Divisors);
- Retention of the existing B787 4-year pay table, with proposed changes to incorporate the value of 4-pilot night credits into the hourly rate;
- A new 4-year pay table for A330 and A380 new-hire Second Officers;
- A new AFDP threshold for A350/B787: one hour for each hour over 20 hours duty period;
- Removal of the online training payment;
- Revised RIN protections for pilots moving between fleets;
- Removal of the A330/A350 SFF category;
- Reversion to the existing LHEA10 15-4 contactability arrangements;
- Revised Blank Line arrangements, including payment and rostering to divisor, 13 hours of passive credit for Blank Line holders, and 0.5 hours of passive credit when allocated or assigned standby duties;
- Introduction of up to three “Golden Leave” days for Blank Line holders, drawn from existing Golden Leave entitlement;
- Changes to Blank Line contact periods, including retention of current AM contact periods and amended PM contact periods;
- Changes to Open Time priorities, including adding Blank Line holders to Priority 5 for early closure and reducing the early closure window from five days to three days;
- Removal of the proposed requirement for a pilot clearing to line to complete two Blank Lines in the new category;
- Reversion to LHEA10 short-line pattern protection provisions, with some adjustments, including removal of fixed PP for ATA pilots;
- Changes to standby allocation rules, including the ability to allocate standby duties in blocks of up to four days;
- Changes to Blank Line hours balancing provisions to allow hours balancing practices to be applied to standby and simulator support duties;
- Revised simulator support arrangements, including maintaining existing simulator support protections and adding ATA pilots to Priority 1;
- Changes to duty travel, including confirmed first class entitlement on aircraft with more than 6 first class seats when requirement for duty travel arises up until 3 days prior to the commencement of a pattern;
- A proposed right for Qantas to pax pilots on other Qantas Group aircraft, while retaining existing standards protections;
- Ability for the Company and an individual pilot to reach an agreement for the Pilot to accept any class of travel on any carrier;
- Amendment of RM20.2 2(a) to provide for the Association to approve a Crew Rest that does not meet the definition as a ‘Class 1 Rest’ to be deemed a ‘Class 1 Rest’; and
- Removal of the implementation allowance, with the implementation schedule still to be redetermined.
AFAP Assessment
There are elements of the revised package that appear to respond to concerns pilots identified following the failed vote, particularly in relation to the scale and complexity of the proposed pay changes, the impact of Blank Lines, and the removal or refinement of some key concessions. However, the revised package also appears to include new concessions that will require careful scrutiny by the AFAP.
Without the complete remuneration detail, including final pay tables and associated modelling, the AFAP is not yet in a position to make any critical assessment of the proposed package.
It is critical that the AFAP has the opportunity to review the package in its entirety before releasing a comprehensive briefing to members. The value, or otherwise, of any proposed change can only be properly understood in the context of the full package.
Releasing a piecemeal assessment or further commentary before we have the complete picture risks members forming views based on incomplete information. We appreciate your patience as we work through this process carefully and thoroughly.
Questions and Feedback
If you have any questions or further feedback, please contact your AFAP Qantas Pilot Council representatives at qpc@afap.org.au, or the AFAP Legal and Industrial team:
Executive Director Simon Lutton – simon@afap.org.au
Senior Legal/Industrial Officer Patrick Larkins – patrick@afap.org.au
Senior Legal/Industrial Officer Deanna Cain – deanna@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