Qantas Cuts 850 Local Jobs in Accenture Deal
The airline is shifting back-office functions to professional services firm Accenture, with most work moving to India.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Job Search
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Qantas will cut 850 local jobs as it signs a deal with Accenture to modernise its back-end systems, processes and data. The first phase affects staff in finance, procurement, human resources and marketing.
Why it matters
Qantas cites the impact of AI and the need to modernise more than 1000 back office systems, as it seeks to cut costs amid high fuel prices and technological change. The changes affect Australian workers directly while shifting much of the back-office work offshore.
Qantas will cut 850 local jobs as it works to modernise more than 1000 back office systems with Accenture. Accenture has more than 84,000 staff in India, according to LinkedIn, and individual outcomes for affected workers are yet to be determined.
The players
Qantas
Qantas is Australia's largest airline and the national flag carrier, based in Sydney.
Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company that provides technology and consulting services to large organisations.
Australian Services Union
The Australian Services Union is a trade union representing service sector workers in Australia, including the affected Qantas staff.
The details
Some back-office services are moving to Accenture, delivered mostly by its teams in India and some in Australia. The cuts build on earlier reductions at the airline's head office at Mascot in Sydney, and the Australian Services Union represents affected workers, with consultations ongoing.
Timeline
August 2026: Plans for the offshoring, known internally as Project iQ, were first reported.
10 November 2026: Qantas announces the 850 job cuts and the Accenture deal.
Middle of 2027: First-phase changes in finance, procurement, HR and marketing are expected to be completed.
Market Landscape
The Qantas move follows a pattern of Australian companies shifting back-office functions offshore to India-based providers while keeping some work onshore. It also reflects a broader push by airlines to cut costs as fuel prices rise and new technology reshapes corporate operations.
Affected Qantas staff in finance, procurement, human resources and marketing face job losses, with individual outcomes to be worked through with the union over the coming months. Workers in similar corporate roles should note that the shift of back-office functions offshore may signal further changes across the sector.
The takeaway
The Qantas restructuring shows how AI and system modernisation are prompting companies to reshape corporate roles. Workers in back-office functions should keep their skills current and watch for consultation outcomes with their employers and unions.
What happens next
Qantas's first-phase changes in finance, procurement, HR and marketing are expected to be completed by the middle of 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on Job Search to see how corporate restructuring is shaping employment across Australia.
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