Qantas asks senior executives to work as ground handlers

Qantas has asked its senior executives and managers to take part in a program that could see them work as ground handlers for three months, amid critical staff shortages.

The Australian reports the airline’s chief operating officer sent a note to staff saying at least 100 senior staff would be recruited under the program.

They could be required to work as ground handlers for up to five days per week for three months.

But chairman of Strategic Aviation Solutions, Neil Hansford, says the plan has some serious flaws.

“They’re probably not physically capable of doing it anyway, they’re probably not fit enough,” he told Ross and Russel.

Mr Hansford says it’s time for airlines to axe services if they can’t attract the staff required to run them.

“No one can tell anybody what’s happened to all the people who were filling these jobs, because they weren’t overseas students,” he said.

“We’ve got through the school holiday period and it’s only getting marginally better so the solution is that maybe you’ve got to be reducing the services on offer.

“What you do is you cut your cloth to fit.”

Press PLAY below to hear what Mr Hansford thinks of the plan