Qantas executives are being asked to volunteer for crucial roles such as baggage handling as the airline tries to battle the chaos that has dogged many of its competitors around the world.
Under the program, first reported by The Australian newspaper, up to 200 management and office staff would sort and scan bags, and also drive tow trucks, the vehicles that tow luggage between terminals and planes.
According to a memo to staff from chief operating officer Colin Hughes, the redeployments would be up to five days a week for three months.
The memo, cited in a report by Australian broadcaster SBS, said the airline is seeking expressions of interest in the program.
“People who respond to the EOI will be trained and brought into the ramp environment at Sydney and Melbourne airports,” he said.
“These individuals will support our groundhandling partners, who manage the Qantas operation, for a period of three months from mid-August.”
A Qantas spokesperson told 9news.com.au: “It has been clear to us that our operational performance has not been meeting our customers’ expectations or the standards we expect of ourselves, and we have been doing everything we can to improve our performance.
“As we have done in the past during peak periods, around 200 head office staff have been assisting airports during peak travel periods since Easter.
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“While we deal with the impacts of a record flu season and ongoing cases of COVID along with the tightest labor market in decades, we continue with this contingency planning for our airport operations over the next three months.”
Last month, the Australian company dropped out of the top five rankings of the world’s best airlines.
Like many of its competitors, it has been hit by a wave of customer anger following flight cancellations, long queues at check-in, mishandling of luggage and long waits when contacting call centres. .
The airline received almost $2 billion (£1.15 billion) in government support during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also laid off 1,700 baggage handlers and outsourced the service to contractors.
That move was ruled illegal by Australia’s Federal Court but, faced with a huge compensation bill, Qantas has said it will contest it.