Qantas international pilots have approved a new six-year enterprise agreement following a second vote, overturning an earlier rejection of the airline's proposed terms. The latest ballot saw 61 percent of pilots in favour, a reversal from the previous poll in which 66 percent had opposed the deal.

The agreement applies to approximately 1,700 pilots who operate the airline’s wide-body fleet, including Airbus A380s, Boeing 787-9s, and A330s. These aircraft primarily serve Qantas’ long-haul routes to destinations such as London, Santiago, and Los Angeles. The previous agreement expired in 2024, and its conclusion was marked by a two-year wage freeze imposed on all employee groups as the airline managed the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, pilots voted to support protected industrial action but ultimately did not proceed with strikes while negotiations continued. Both the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) and the Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) endorsed the revised offer put forward by Qantas.

The new agreement includes a 25 percent pay increase over the six-year term, with an 11.1 percent rise effective between now and July 2027. AIPA president Andrew Marshall described the increase as a significant improvement for pilots, particularly in the context of ongoing inflation and rising living costs. “I’m happy to be able to deliver one of the largest pay rises in recent times for Qantas pilots,” Marshall commented.

Qantas wide-body captains typically earn more than AUD 400,000 annually, while senior captains on the A380 fleet can earn upwards of AUD 500,000 per year. The approval of this agreement brings an end to the protracted negotiations and underscores the airline’s efforts to restore stability and competitiveness in its international pilot workforce.