QPC Briefing No. 32 2026
EA11 Negotiations Update
The AFAP met with Qantas today to continue negotiations for a new Long Haul Enterprise Agreement.
During the meeting, Qantas formally responded to the position recently presented by the AFAP. While Qantas has not agreed to every element of our position, the substantial shift in their position has demonstrated meaningful and positive movement across all of the most significant areas.
This movement is a direct result of the collective message sent by pilots who voted No to the first EA11 offer.
Critically, Qantas has indicated that it is prepared to move substantially closer to the AFAP’s position, developed from the post-vote survey data, on almost all of the key issues and objectives identified by members through the post-vote surveys, including, crucially, the overall remuneration outcome.
Most significantly, the Company has indicated that it is prepared to materially increase the proposed pay uplift from the position presented to the AFAP last week.
A number of issues nevertheless remain unresolved. Based on the discussions to date, the AFAP does not consider those issues to be insurmountable in the short term, provided Qantas is prepared to make the further movement required.
Summary of Qantas’ movement over the past two weeks
Remuneration
Qantas has moved materially from its June proposal, including:
- a meaningful increase to the initial salary uplift;
- movement in response to the AFAP’s concerns regarding the proposed divisor arrangements; and
- improvements to address pay stagnation for Second Officers
- Blank Line improvements
Qantas has made further movement in recognising and addressing the impact of Blank Lines, including:
- increasing the proposed Blank Line payment;
- providing greater protection for Blank Line holders through High Priority Duty-Free Days and Golden Leave Days;
- amending the afternoon contact periods to provide greater certainty for commuting pilots;
- giving Blank Line holders a higher priority in Open Time; and
- allowing the early closure of patterns where operationally possible
Short Line Pattern Protection
Qantas has moved on Short Line Pattern Protection by:
- allowing pilots to drop ATA hours below the current 132 hour threshold.
- allowing pilots to avoid ATA contactability requirements by voluntarily reducing their protected hours.
Standby
Qantas has withdrawn its proposed standby balancing provisions from its June proposal.
Simulator support
Qantas has:
- removed the proposed simulator support off standby claim and
- removed the simulator support hours balancing claim from its June proposal.
Duty travel
Qantas has made meaningful movement on a range of duty travel issues, including:
- scaling back the scope of the First Class duty travel reform claim;
- increasing protections for pilots duty travelling on other Qantas Group aircraft;
- introducing clearer guardrails and definitions around lie-flat Business Class entitlements;
- supporting a transparent framework under which Qantas and an individual pilot may agree to alternative duty travel arrangements where appropriate, without undermining Open Time priorities or existing entitlements.
Miscellaneous
- Qantas has withdrawn its proposed amendments to the Class 1 crew rest provisions from its June proposal.
- Qantas has also committed to reducing maximum surge divisors on the 787/A350 as part of our cumulative fatigue concerns.
AFAP representation
Qantas has agreed to more formally recognise the AFAP within the Enterprise Agreement, including by expanding AFAP representation rights.
Overall assessment
Compared with its previous proposal, Qantas has moved materially across almost every major bargaining issue raised by the AFAP. This includes:
- substantially improving the overall remuneration outcome;
- improving the position of Blank Line holders;
- withdrawing previous claims relating to the 15–4 provisions, simulator support from standby, hours balancing standbys and simulator support duties, and changes to the Class 1 crew rest provisions;
- meaningfully scaling back concessions on duty travel;
- accepting a number of AFAP drafting proposals; and
- demonstrating a willingness to continue refining several remaining issues rather than maintaining its previous position.
The various components of the proposed package remain subject to movement at this critical stage of bargaining. Discussions with Qantas are continuing, and the precise details may change as part of the necessary give-and-take involved in reaching an in-principle agreement. Accordingly, the AFAP is not presently in a position to provide members with the full details of the package under discussion.
While a number of matters remain unresolved, the discussions over the past two weeks reflect a significant narrowing of the gap between the parties and a genuine willingness by Qantas to respond to the AFAP’s package and the feedback provided by members.
The AFAP will now provide Qantas with a clear position on how the remaining matters must be addressed before an in-principle agreement could be reached that the AFAP would be prepared to endorse and recommend to members. We expect to provide that feedback early next week.
Separate from our ongoing direct bargaining discussions with Qantas, the AFAP will also participate fully in the Fair Work Commission’s section 240 conciliation process, noting that the matter has not yet been listed by the Commission.
Ultimately, if Qantas is not prepared to make the necessary further movement, the AFAP will proceed with an application for a Protected Action Ballot Order on behalf of members.
This reflects the AFAP’s long-standing position that protected industrial action is one of several tools for achieving a fair agreement and should be deployed strategically where necessary and likely to be effective.
Our priority remains exactly as it has been throughout this bargaining process: securing an agreement that reflects the clear mandate provided by pilots through both the rejection of the April proposal and the subsequent surveys.
As matters presently stand, the package under discussion is materially better than the original EA11 proposal and meets the vast majority of the objectives identified by members through the post-vote surveys. Further movement is nevertheless required on the remaining issues before the AFAP could endorse and recommend an agreement to members.
Why the AFAP remains at the bargaining table
For the time being, the AFAP remains actively engaged in negotiations because Qantas is continuing to bargain and has demonstrated a willingness to move its position.
We do not presently believe that every reasonable opportunity to reach an agreement capable of endorsement has been exhausted. It would not be responsible of us to abandon negotiations while there remains a realistic prospect of securing an acceptable outcome through the bargaining process.
In the post-vote survey, members told us that the negotiation process should be properly tested before escalation occurred. That is what the AFAP is doing.
It is also worth remembering that the AFAP recommended a No vote on the first proposed agreement because we believed that further bargaining was likely to produce a materially better outcome for pilots. The progress now being made supports that assessment.
Protected industrial action
We understand that some members are eager for the AFAP to apply for a PABO as soon as possible. It is important to keep in mind that for industrial action to be effective, it must be carefully planned, strongly supported and directed towards a clear bargaining objective. It should not be pursued simply for the sake of taking action or to merely vent frustration - no matter how understandable that frustration may be.
The AFAP is prepared to apply for a PABO if it becomes necessary. However, before doing so, we must ensure that we have complied with the good-faith bargaining requirements and that any decision to pursue protected industrial action is made strategically and in the best interests of members.
The AFAP's immediate priority is therefore to give Qantas the opportunity to make the required changes over the coming week. If Qantas does not make the necessary movement, members should be prepared for the AFAP to escalate the campaign and seek a Protected Action Ballot Order.
If the matter proceeds to a ballot, strong participation and turnout will be critical. It will determine not only whether any proposed action is legally authorised, but also whether the campaign carries the industrial credibility and collective strength necessary to influence the outcome of bargaining.
We will continue to keep members informed as negotiations progress.
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