Qantas issues urgent plea for flights scheduled for today

Qantas has issued an urgent plea to unrostered pilots to fly a number of flights scheduled to depart today.

The airline sent out the SOS for three international flights — a flight of unknown origin to London, a Sydney to Johannesburg flight and a Melbourne to Los Angeles flight — and a number of domestic flights, amid “critical” staff shortages, with no captains and first officers available for the flights.

A call out has also been put out for an unspecified number of crew.

Recently retired Qantas captain Richard de Crespigny says it’ll be difficult for many pilots to assist.

“If they’re currently employed they have to obey the rules as to how much they can fly. This is not like medicine where people can work continually and put the public at risk,” he told Jimmy Bartel and Shane McInnes, filling in for Ross and Russel.

“Some pilots may wish to come back and help the high demand but the roster or the limitations in flying hours per year just don’t allow it.

“For retired pilots … it would take probably six months to bring a Qantas captain back into the cockpit.”

The urgent call out has sparked questions about whether Qantas’s cost-cutting measures during the pandemic — which included staff reductions — were too severe.

Press PLAY below to hear why it’ll be difficult for many pilots to assist