QPC Briefing No. 55 2026
Qantas LHEA11 – Final EA11 Document Released
The EA11 drafting process is now complete, and Qantas has released the final proposed Qantas Airways Limited (Long Haul) Enterprise Agreement 2026 (EA11) to all Long Haul pilots, marking the commencement of the formal access period ahead of the ballot.
Under the Fair Work Act, the proposed Agreement and any material incorporated by reference must be made available to pilots for at least seven days before voting commences.
Voting opens at 10am AEDT on Thursday 22 October and closes at 11am AEDT on Thursday 29 October 2026.
Assessing the Proposed EA11
The AFAP encourages all pilots to assess the proposed EA11 in its entirety, taking into account not only the improvements and concessions within the package, but also the context of the negotiations, the significant progress achieved since the April No vote and the risks associated with the alternatives.
Over the past two months, the QPC has released a series of detailed briefings to assist pilots in making an informed assessment of the proposed Agreement:
Key Terms of the In-Principle Agreement – Briefing No. 41
Remuneration Outcomes – Briefing No. 42
Assessing the Overall Package and Concessions – Briefing No. 44
Reduction in Numbers (RIN) Provisions – Briefing No. 46
Assessing the A350 Package – Briefing No. 48
AFAP Pay Comparison Widget – Briefing No. 50
Legal Advice on the Options Following a No Vote – Briefing No. 52
Blank Line Reforms – Briefing No. 53
Trainer Package Details – Briefing No. 54
An update to the AFAP Pay Widget with roster build functionality has been released. Further details on this will follow in a separate communication shortly.
In addition to these targeted briefings, we have attached an
AFAP Long Haul EA11 Explanatory Document providing a broader overview of the proposed Agreement and its implications for pilots.
Together, these materials provide a comprehensive assessment of what pilots stand to gain, what is being traded and the realistic alternatives should the Agreement be rejected.
We encourage all pilots to revisit the material most relevant to their circumstances and raise any outstanding questions with their AFAP QPC representatives before voting.
Ultimately, this is your Agreement and your decision. Whatever your view, we encourage you to make an informed choice based on the full package, rather than individual provisions considered in isolation.
AFAP Recommendation – Vote YES
The AFAP recommended a No vote in April because pilots deserved a better deal. Further bargaining has delivered on: stronger remuneration, fairer pay structures, meaningful Blank Line improvements and substantially fewer concessions. Having assessed the overall package against the risks and uncertainty of further bargaining, the AFAP QPC unanimously endorses the proposed EA11 and recommends that pilots vote YES.
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 and 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