SYDNEY, Nov. 8, 2026 — Qantas is preparing more than 1,560 pilots and cabin crew for the 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs that will fly its planned ultra-long-haul routes. Separately, it cancelled two Perth flights after a passenger allegedly pushed a cabin manager.
A350 crewing
- About 360-plus pilots and roughly 1,200 cabin crew, around 30 pilots and 100 cabin crew per aircraft.
- First aircraft due April 2027; delivery date of the 12th is TBA.
- Sydney–London is planned for October 2027 and Sydney–New York from mid-2028.
- Training is under way on Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney, and some pilots are training with British Airways in the UK. The first group is 40 current A330 pilots.
- Qantas is working with the regulator CASA on fatigue rules; rostering details are TBA.
Perth incident
- On Nov. 6, before takeoff on a Perth–Melbourne flight, a passenger allegedly pushed a cabin manager after being asked to move from an exit-row seat.
- Federal police arrested and charged a 57-year-old man with common assault; he was due in court Nov. 7.
- Qantas cancelled that flight and its return and rebooked passengers. The airline cited its “zero-tolerance approach towards disruptive or threatening behaviour.”
What it means for non-revs
- No near-term effect on staff travel. The A350 programme is a large hiring and training pipeline for Qantas pilots and cabin crew through 2027–28.
- The Perth cancellations were a one-off and caused no wider disruption.
Sources
- Aviation A2Z, “Qantas’ 12 New Airbus A350s Will Require More Than 1,560 Crew Members” — https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2026/11/08/qantas-12-new-airbus-a350s-will-require-more-than-1560-crew-members/
- Rus Tourism News, “Qantas Cancels Two Flights After Passenger Allegedly Assaults Cabin Crew at Perth Airport” — https://www.rustourismnews.com/2026/11/07/qantas-cancels-two-flights-after-passenger-allegedly-assaults-cabin-crew-at-perth-airport/
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