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23 August, 2018

Qantas announces second pilot academy site plus major lounge revamp

A flight instructor is describing various dials and displays to a trainee pilot in the cockpit of a simulator.

By Alexandra Coulton

Qantas just reported a record-breaking $1.6 billion full-year result!

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Announcing its full-year results, the airline also said it will now open its Pilot Academy across two locations in regional Australia AND they will be adding six lounges to its global lounge improvement program.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the record profit reflected a strong market as well as the benefits of ongoing work to improve the business and build long-term shareholder value.

“These numbers show a company that’s delivering across the board,” said Joyce.

“Ultimately our success relies on the great service and dedication to safety from our people, which is supported by continuing to invest and innovate.

“We’re very pleased to reward our people with a bonus for this fantastic result. It brings the total amount set aside for non-executive employees to over $300 million over the past four years for their part in the Group’s exceptional performance.”

The Academy’s second site is expected to be operational in 2020. The total initial investment of $20 million is unchanged, reflecting the levels of third-party support.

Almost 17,000 people have so far registered their interest in the Academy via qantas.com/pilotacademy.

Plans for the Qantas Group Pilot Academy were announced in February this year and it’s expected the first site will be operational during 2019. Nine regional cities across Australia – Alice Springs, Bendigo, Busselton, Dubbo, Launceston, Mackay, Tamworth, Toowoomba and Wagga Wagga – have been shortlisted. A decision on both sites will be announced in coming weeks.

Joyce said that initial scoping had shown that two locations would be needed to reach the Academy’s potential.

“We’re aiming to train up to 100 pilots in year one but we expect this to grow to as many as 500 a year and that can only be achieved if we have more than one location,” Joyce said.

“Adding up to 250 students plus instructors and support staff to any of these places needs the right infrastructure at airports, but also in the towns themselves.”

The national carrier is also encouraging more women to consider a career in aviation, which globally stands at just three per cent. To date, around 16 per cent of people registering interest in the Academy are female.

As for the lounge revamp, the multi-million dollar program will see the national carrier upgrade six lounges in Auckland, Brisbane, Hobart, Sydney, Tamworth and Tokyo.

Joyce said the extended lounge program would be across international, domestic and regional airports.

“Over the past few years we’ve been steadily renewing lounges right across our network. This next wave of improvements that we’re announcing today will improve our customers’ overall travel experience,” said Joyce.

The lounge locations are:

Sydney – The flagship Sydney International First lounge will be refreshed and expanded by 15 per cent.
Auckland – The First and Business Lounges in Auckland will be redesigned into a single lounge based on the format of Qantas’ international lounges in London and Hong Kong. Regional inspiration from New Zealand will be incorporated throughout.
Tokyo – The Narita lounge will be refreshed with a new design and improved dining options.
Brisbane – The Brisbane International Lounge will be expanded to cater for an additional 100 guests and completed in early 2019.
Hobart and Tamworth – Both lounges will be completely redesigned with more space and seating.

Today’s announcements are in addition to lounge upgrades currently underway in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Melbourne Qantas Club and Domestic Business Lounge are currently being redeveloped. The first phase of the redesigned Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge opens tomorrow, and once complete will feature a Spice Bar serving freshly made Asian street food. Both lounges will be completed by November this year.

Qantas is also building a new Sydney International Business Lounge with 35 per cent more seating.

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