Alan Joyce to depart role in Qantas two months earlier than scheduled

NEW Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson vowed to restore the trust of its customers after weeks of damning publicity forced the early departure of longstanding boss Alan Joyce and sparked calls for chairman Richard Goyder to resign.

Mr Joyce, a Tallaght native and former Aer Lingus employee, will depart the airline two months earlier than scheduled amid mounting controversies.

Joyce was set to leave in November, after 15 years as chief executive, but will now exit the role immediately.

He said recent attention on “events of the past” made it clear this is “the best thing” he could do.

The airline is the subject of growing public anger after reaping record profits despite a series of scandals.

Hudson became Qantas’ first female boss when she succeeded Mr Joyce.

In the past two years Qantas has faced a slew of criticism for expensive airfares, mass delays and cancellations, and its treatment of workers.

A week after Qantas announced a record €1.5bn profit, Australia’s consumer watchdog – the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) – said it was taking legal action against the airline over allegations it had sold tickets to thousands of flights it had already cancelled.

The lawsuit means the national carrier is now facing legal action on three fronts.

It is also appealing against a ruling that it illegally outsourced thousands of jobs during the pandemic, and is fighting a class action from customers over its inflexible flight credit scheme.

Shareholders are now under pressure from some groups – including some parliamentarians – to vote down Mr Joyce’s final remuneration package, which is reportedly over €14m.

In a statement announcing his departure, Mr Joyce did not address those calls.

He said there was a lot he was proud of over his time at Qantas, but it now needed to “move ahead with its renewal as a priority.”

For full access to all content on Echo.ie and to support the continuation of local news and local journalism in your community subscribe HERE.

Thanks for your ongoing support.