Qantas launches countersuit against former employee

Qantas has filed a counterclaim against one of its former pilots, who sued the airline for allegedly underpaying his leave entitlements, after settling an earlier age discrimination case with the airline July. Andrew Hewitt, a long-haul captain and career Boeing 747 pilot, was offered an early retirement package last year at the age of 63, however Hewitt refused the deal and fought Qantas in the Federal Court of NSW. The two parties reached a settlement in July for an undisclosed amount. However, Hewitt has since filed a new case against Qantas, accusing the airline of underpaying him his annual and long service leave entitlement by $92,000, according to a report by The Australian. The former pilot argued that Qantas had calculated his entitlements based on the minimum number of hours flown in his last six roster periods, as opposed to his actual flown hours. Meanwhile, Qantas said under the settlement agreement, Hewitt made a “promise not to sue”, and was not entitled to make the claims he has now made in regard to his leave payments, which is why the airline has launched its counterclaim.<br/>