Published on, Aug. 18 -- August 18, 2025 11:03 AM

An Australian court has fined Qantas Airways US$59 million (Aus$90 million) for illegally laying off 1,800 ground staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the penalty was intended as a "real deterrence" for companies tempted to breach employment laws for financial gain. The ruling marks the end of a five-year legal battle that centered on the airline's treatment of its workforce during one of the toughest economic periods.

Qantas had decided in August 2020 to outsource its ground handling jobs at a time when lockdowns and border closures were strict, and vaccines were not yet widely available. The Federal Court later found that the move was unlawful, as ...