Intro Info
What is Qantas' low-cost airline subsidiary?
Jetstar.
Which HR process involves attracting applicants to work at Qantas?
Recruitment (Acquisition)
What leadership style has Vanessa Hudson indicated she prefers?
A more democratic and collaborative leadership style
What is the main objective of financial management?
To effectively manage financial resources to achieve liquidity, profitability, efficiency, growth and solvency.
What financial management strategy has Qantas used through initiatives such as outsourcing, restructuring and reducing operational expenses to improve profitability?
Cost controls
Approximately how many full-time employees does Qantas employ?
More than 25,000 employee (up to 29,700).
(correct if nearby, bonus 50 points for in this range)
Name one major trade union that represents Qantas employees.
Transport Workers Union (TWU), Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA), Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) or Australian Workers Union (AWU)
As Qantas rebuilt its workforce after COVID-19, what job design strategy involved employees moving between different tasks and responsibilities?
Job rotation
What was Qantas' net profit after tax in FY2025?
$1.61 billion
What financial strategy does Qantas use to protect itself from fuel price increases?
Hedging (accept a small, known cost or lower potential return to protect against a larger, unexpected drop in value)
Who became Qantas' first female CEO after Alan Joyce retired?
Vanessa Hudson
During COVID-19, approximately how many employees did Qantas make redundant?
Around 9,000 employees
Qantas spends approximately how much annually on training and development?
About $275 million per year
What source of finance involves raising money through selling shares on the ASX?
Equity finance
What working capital strategy involves renting aircraft rather than purchasing them outright?
Leasing
What challenge did Qantas face when some employees and unions opposed outsourcing and restructuring decisions?
Industrial disputes and damage to employee relations
Which piece of legislation provides the framework for workplace relations at Qantas?
The Fair Work Act (including amendments such as Secure Jobs, Better Pay)
What reward strategy did Qantas use in 2022 to improve staff retention?
Giving eligible employees 1,000 shares and retention bonuses if they remained with the company
Which financial ratio measures Qantas' ability to meet short-term obligations?
The Current Ratio (liquidity ratio)
Explain how a stronger Australian dollar benefits Qantas
A stronger Australian dollar lowers the cost of fuel, aircraft purchases, lease payments and overseas debt repayments because many of these costs are paid in US dollars.
Explain the strategic role of human resource management at Qantas
- ensuring the airline has the skilled, motivated and adaptable workforce
- uses strategies to improve customer service, operational efficiency, productivity and competitive advantage
- HR strategies to ensure staff are equipped to operate in service based industry and deal with multiple cultures/languages
Explain how COVID-19 created HR challenges for Qantas
COVID-19 caused a collapse in air travel demand, leading to stand-downs, redundancies, wage freezes, recruitment pauses and higher employee uncertainty. When borders reopened, Qantas faced labour shortages and had to recruit and retrain large numbers of staff
Discuss (+/-) outsourcing as a HR strategy used by Qantas
Outsourcing helps Qantas reduce labour costs, access specialist expertise and improve competitiveness.
However, it may increase industrial disputes, reduce employee morale, create job insecurity and potentially damage Qantas' reputation if service standards decline
Explain why Qantas' gearing ratio increased significantly after COVID-19
(debt to equity)
Qantas borrowed a lot of money during COVID-19 to keep operating while flights were cancelled. Because debt increased and the company lost money ($7bil), its gearing ratio became much higher.
Assess the effectiveness of Qantas' profitability management strategies since COVID-19
Qantas' profitability strategies have been highly effective.
- Cost cutting, fleet renewal, restructuring, outsourcing and revenue management helped the airline recover from large COVID-era losses and return to record profits in 2023
- However, these strategies also contributed to industrial disputes and reputational challenges