SYDNEY, Australia — Australian airline Qantas said on Thursday it will claw back millions of dollars of bonuses paid to ex-chief executive officer (CEO) Alan Joyce, citing poor performance and a series of damaging public scandals.
The carrier said its board had approved the AU$9.26-million ($6-million) reduction in the Irish-born executive’s payout package.
Joyce took early retirement in late 2023 as the once-beloved airline faced sustained criticism over its service, soaring ticket prices and the treatment of staff.
PAY CUT A file photo taken on July 22, 2020 shows Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce. The Australian flag carrier said on Aug. 8, 2024 it will take back $6 million of bonuses paid to Joyce, citing poor performance and a series of scandals. AFP PHOTO
It enraged once-loyal Australians by charging high ticket prices despite record profits and getting a multibillion-dollar taxpayer-funded bailout during the pandemic.
It was also embroiled in a bruising “ghost flights” scandal that saw it pay a massive fine for continuing to sell seats on long-canceled flights.
Qantas said it had made the decision taking into account the “challenges” facing the airline and “in recognition of the customer and brand impact of cumulative events.”
The carrier was long seen as the “spirit of Australia” — the nation’s link to the rest of the world. Although not state-run, Qantas is seen as an integral part of the economy and vital to cohesion in a country where major cities are hundreds of kilometers apart.
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