QPC Briefing No. 34 2026
EA11 Negotiations Update
The AFAP has now provided Qantas details of the limited matters that remain to be resolved before the parties can reach an in-principle agreement.
Our response continues to reflect the feedback received from members through the post-No Vote survey and the priorities they identified as necessary for the AFAP to address in future bargaining. While there has been meaningful progress in bargaining over recent weeks and the gap between the parties has narrowed significantly, a number of issues remain unresolved.
The AFAP and Qantas are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday to continue negotiations and determine whether those remaining issues can be resolved.
The Fair Work Commission has indicated that it will list the section 240 conciliation conference for this Friday, 24 July, before Deputy President Easton. The conference will be attended by Qantas, the AFAP, AIPA and the other bargaining representatives.
As previously outlined, a section 240 conference is a conciliation process in which a Fair Work Commission Member assists the parties to resolve the outstanding bargaining issues. The Commission's role is to facilitate discussions, encourage the parties to reach agreement and explore possible pathways to resolution. It cannot determine the outcome of bargaining or impose the terms of an Enterprise Agreement on the parties.
The AFAP will participate fully in both Wednesday's bargaining meeting and Friday's conciliation conference in an effort to resolve the remaining issues and secure the best possible outcome for Long Haul pilots.
The AFAP remains committed to pursuing every reasonable opportunity to reach a negotiated agreement. We will continue to engage constructively at the bargaining table while meaningful progress is being made. However, if we reach the view that negotiations have stalled and a genuine impasse has been reached, we remain prepared to take the appropriate steps to escalate the bargaining process.
In addition, today the Blank Line Working Group (BLWG) will meet to discuss short, medium and long-term options relating to Blank Lines and reserve coverage arrangements, with the aim of improving pilot quality of life, predictability, operational effectiveness and earnings stability. The BLWG consists of both AFAP and AIPA reps working together to solve one of the biggest complaints from mainline pilots to date. Some of these reps are not involved directly in EA11 negotiations, so this affords a fresh perspective on something the EA teams have been working on throughout negotiations.
We will continue to keep members informed of any significant developments as bargaining progresses.
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