Qantas Group announces plans to establish cabin crew bases in Perth and Singapore in 2026

The Group has said it remains on track to create 8,500 jobs in Australia by 2030, including 3,500 additional cabin crew and more than 1,000 pilots.

Qantas will establish a new cabin crew base in Perth later this year, while also re-establishing a crew base in Singapore as it expands its international operations.

The Perth base, operated under its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Airways, is expected to create 90 roles. In Singapore, Qantas plans to recruit 120 cabin crew in the first year, with plans to scale up to 650 crew members over five years, according to The Straits Times. Some of the initial hires in Singapore will be drawn from Jetstar’s existing Singapore workforce. 

The moves come as Qantas and Jetstar continue to add new aircraft and expand their networks. The Group has said it remains on track to create 8,500 jobs in Australia by 2030, including 3,500 additional cabin crew and more than 1,000 pilots.

The expansion follows a broader workforce push. Qantas said more than 5,600 employees have gone through leadership development programmes, nearly 100 new pilots have joined the Qantas Pilot Academy, and the engineering apprentice programme has grown to 250 apprentices.

Eligible non-executive employees are also set to receive another AUD$1,000 worth of Qantas shares later this year under an annual award scheme tied to the Group’s financial performance.

Vanessa Hudson, Group CEO, Qantas, said the new aircraft will not only enhance customer experience but also create opportunities for employees and support stronger financial results.

"Around 60% of Jetstar's increase in profitability in the half was driven by its new aircraft, through a combination of growth, new network opportunities and the redeployment of existing aircraft onto other routes.

"This gives us confidence in the benefits that will flow once Qantas’ new aircraft reach scale. We've already started to see an acceleration in deliveries for Qantas, with six new aircraft arriving in the half and a further 30 arriving over the next 18 months," she added. 

The announcement came as part of the Group’s financial results for H12026. For more information, refer to the full media release here. 

Separately, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia closed earlier in July 2025. The Group has also announced its intention to sell its stake in Jetstar Japan as it sharpens its focus on its core Australian operations.