Qantas Group has signed a multi-year strategic partnership with Accenture to modernise its technology infrastructure, simplify operations and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), a move expected to affect around 850 jobs over the coming years.
The partnership will address more than 1,000 legacy applications that have accumulated across the airline over several decades, with the aim of integrating systems, improving data management and creating a platform for wider AI adoption.
Accenture will invest upfront to accelerate the modernisation of Qantas’ data platforms. Some corporate services will transfer to Accenture, with most work carried out by teams in India and some in Australia, before being further transformed through automation and AI.
Qantas said the changes would also deliver benefits across customer services and airline operations, while enabling faster technology development.
The agreement builds on Qantas’ annual technology investment of more than AU$1 billion, which includes its new Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide, expected to employ more than 400 people. Thousands of employees are already using AI tools in their daily work.
Around 850 positions are expected to be affected as the partnership progresses. Qantas said it would consult employees and unions before individual outcomes are determined, with the first phase of changes expected to be implemented by mid-2027.
