Qantas eyes smaller crew on SYD-MEL route as part of $1b cost-cutting drive

Qantas is looking to permanently reduce the number of cabin crew on the lucrative Sydney to Melbourne route as it unleashes a massive cost-cutting drive to help it recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. After the health crisis forced it to ground most of its fleet for the best part of 2020, the airline is trying to cut $1b from its annual cost base to help repair the damage inflicted on its balance sheet. Qantas is carrying out an exhaustive search for ways to save cash in all parts of its operations. It has already announced plans to lay off 8500 workers, or close to a third of its workforce since the start of the pandemic including by outsourcing all ground handling work. In further cost cutting, Qantas is also the process of removing one of the two portable emergency beacons from each of its Boeing 737s and Airbus A330s, which will deliver a minor saving from maintenance and streamlined pre-flight checks. Australian safety regulation only requires airlines to carry one portable Emergency Locator Transmitter in addition to the one that is installed on each aircraft, which crew are trained to take from the aircraft in an emergency evacuation. On Friday night Qantas operated its first flight from Sydney to Melbourne using four cabin crew instead of five, the company confirmed, and will use a reduced crew permanently if it is satisfied service remains acceptable on its busiest and most profitable route. "Given the challenges we face, and that the whole industry faces, we’re naturally looking at smarter ways to manage costs," a Qantas spokesman said. "But we’ll never compromise on safety and we’ll always be a premium airline offering a high level of service. In areas where we’re upgrading technology, we’ll hopefully be able to offer a smoother, faster experience."<br/>