QantasLink will close pilot and cabin‑crew bases in Hobart (HBA), Canberra (CBR) and Mildura (MQL) from April 2026, relocating about 70 employees to larger Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane bases after an internal review. The move has provoked union and political backlash and raised local operational and community concerns.
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The closures affect roughly 70 pilots and cabin crew and move staffing to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, a centralisation that will alter crew rostering, base resilience and operational costs.
The decision follows QantasLink fleet and network shifts — including introduction of the A220 and turboprop retirements — that change capacity needs on regional routes and underpin base rationalisation (see QantasLink's A220 introduction and the Dash 8 Q300 retirement).
The move has prompted union and political backlash and mirrors recent carrier decisions to shut crew bases elsewhere, a precedent for operational restructuring and local impact (see Allegiant's LAX crew base closure).
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QantasLink to close Canberra, Hobart and Mildura bases next year as part of restructuring • Aviation Business News
(DE) Qantas closes three regional bases despite opposition | aeroTELEGRAPH • aerotelegraph.com
Australian Aviation
• Jake Nelson