QPC Briefing No. 31 2026
LH EA11 Update
This afternoon the AFAP met with Qantas to continue discussions on the Company’s revised EA11 proposal as part of the ongoing bargaining process.
The AFAP presented a high-level response to the revised proposal that focused on three key areas:
- a detailed position on the proposed pay structure and other pay-related matters;
- a Blank Line counter-proposal aimed at delivering both immediate improvements in EA11 and longer-term reform; and
- targeted amendments addressing other significant issues consistently raised by pilots in the post-vote surveys.
While we had hoped to provide Qantas with a finalised written response ahead of this meeting, the work undertaken over the past week made clear that there were a number of areas in Qantas’ revised proposal where further information, clarification and feedback from Company representatives was required before the AFAP team could finalise our position.
The meeting therefore provided an important opportunity to work through those issues directly with Qantas and to discuss how the parties could best identify a path towards reaching agreement.
The key message conveyed to Qantas was clear: the AFAP could not accept any package that delivered inferior pay outcomes compared with those contained in the EA11 proposal that pilots rejected.
With the benefit of the additional information now provided by Qantas, including proposed draft clauses and data sought by the AFAP, we can now finalise our full written response setting out what would be required to reach an in-principle agreement capable of AFAP endorsement.
That response will address the key concerns consistently identified by pilots through the survey process and direct member engagement following the failed vote. The next step will be for the Company to consider those issues and outline its response.
The AFAP remains committed to negotiating constructively and in good faith. We will continue engaging with Qantas over the coming weeks and will keep members informed of any progress.
AskAFAP App Reminder
Since the rollout of the AskAFAP Rostering App for our Short Haul members, we have continued to see strong engagement and valuable interaction across the membership.
The benefit of AskAFAP goes beyond simply answering a member's question. It helps identify emerging rostering and EBA issues, allowing the AFAP to monitor trends, identify recurring concerns and engage proactively with Qantas through our regular meetings and conciliation processes.
Behind the scenes, our Scheduling Team continually monitors AskAFAP's performance, reviews member enquiries, follows up on EBA matters requiring further investigation and works closely with our developers to continually refine and expand the platform. We are also pleased to welcome Kylie Clements to the Scheduling Team, where she will play an important role in supporting this ongoing work.
AskAFAP has become an invaluable member resource, providing immediate, reliable guidance on rostering provisions and Short Haul EBA requirements. As technology and artificial intelligence become increasingly embedded in enterprise agreement interpretation, rostering and operational decision-making, it is important that our members have access to equally sophisticated tools to better understand and protect their industrial rights.
However, AskAFAP does not replace the personal support our members have always received. Our experienced Scheduling and Industrial staff oversee the platform and remain available to assist members with more complex or urgent rostering and industrial matters.
If you haven’t already, download the AskAFAP App today (link) and give it a go.
Uniting Our Voice: AFAP Joins New Aviation Unions Alliance in Canberra
This week, AFAP stood alongside five other aviation unions in Canberra to formally launch the Australian Aviation Unions Alliance (AAUA). Together with AIPA, ALAEA, Civil Air, the FAAA and the UFU Aviation Branch, we now speak for more than 20,000 aviation professionals — pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, cabin crew and firefighters.
Over two days we met with Government MPs, Agency Heads and Departmental Representatives including:
- Transport Minister Catherine King,
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke,
- The office of Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth,
- CASA CEO Pip Spence,
- ATSB Commissioner Angus Mitchell
- Department Secretary Jim Betts, and
- Senators Peter Whish-Wilson and Josh Dolega.
These meetings raised issues that stretch across the industry include:
- Fatigue,
- Cabin air quality,
- The Federal Airports Act and protecting our aviation infrastructure,
- Airspace deficiencies in Ballina and the Pilbara,
- Airservices staffing issues in ATC and ARFF ranks,
- The gap between civil aviation safety law and workplace health and safety law,
- CASA’s increasing reliance on exemptions from regulations, and
- Security screening for flight crews
Representatives from all 6 Aviation Unions with Catherine King (centre)
It was emphasised to those we met that aviation professionals need to be properly consulted on decisions that affect our safety and work.
The response was genuinely positive, with recognition that, as workers on the front line of the industry, we had subject matter expertise that could inform their policy work. It was recognised the strength of six unions all meeting under one banner.
We look forward to continued engagement through the alliance on these important issues.
Andrew Marshall (AIPA), Marcus Diamond (AFAP), Rob Close (AFAP), William Kerr (AIPA)
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:
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