Qantas to shed 5,000 jobs

News.com.au reports:

QANTAS is gearing up to axe 5000 jobs and sell its terminal at MelbourneAirport to prove to the Abbott Government it can make the tough business decisions required to obtain federal assistance.

The airline may also take the razor to its budget offshoot Jetstar, slashing jobs and routes, as it lobbies the Government to provide it with a lifesaving debt guarantee.

Job cuts, previously forecast to be 2000, are now expected to be closer to 5000.

They have around 33,000 employees so that is a massive one in seven or so to go.

With the airline already forecasting a loss of $300 million, a radical overhaul of operations is being finalised, with the company determined to show real reform in order to secure the debt guarantee it has been seeking from Treasurer Joe Hockey.

Their revenue is $16 billion so the loss is only around 2% of revenue. However many of their costs such as depreciation and fuel can’t be reduced. They have 50 million passengers a year so to break even need to reduce the cost per passenger by at least $6.

Air NZ in 2012 made a $70 million profit on $4.5b revenue so close to a 2% profit on revenue. With 12 million passengers that is a profit of around $6 a passenger.