It's a sombre mood at Qantas today as the company announces thousands of staff will be cut.
It's estimated around 6,000 people will be cut and the Flying Kangaroo will ground 100 aircraft in a bid to save money in post-pandemic Australia.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce revealed that international travel won't resume until July next year, dashing people's hopes of flying with the company in the next few months for an overseas jaunt.
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In addition to the 100 aircraft being grounded, six of Qantas' remaining Boeing Co 747 fleet will be immediately retired, which is six months ahead of schedule.
The company's A380 planes will be sent to America's Mojave Desert, as the dry air provides the best conditions for an aircraft to be preserved.
Mr Joyce said while these decisions were tough to swallow, it's the only way for the airline to stay afloat.
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Some people have been with the company for decades, with the majority of cuts being in the ground and cabin crew.
In a statement, Mr Joyce said: "This is something that weighs heavily on all of us. But the collapse of billions of dollars in revenue leaves us little choice if we are to save as many jobs as possible, long term.
"Many of the 6,000 job losses we're announcing today are people who have spent decades here. It's not unusual to have several members of one family working at Qantas and Jetstar.
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"What makes this even harder is that right before this crisis hit, we were actively recruiting. We were gearing up for Project Sunrise.
"We were getting ready to buy planes. Now, we're facing a sudden reversal of fortune that is no one's fault - but is very hard to accept. Across the world, airlines are shrinking by up to 50%.
"To avoid anything on this scale, we will be extending the stand down for a large number of our people as we wait for the recovery we know is coming.
"Separate to job losses, about 15,000 people will remain stood down for some time - people for whom we have no work now, but will in future. Around half of those stood down will be back flying domestically, we think, by the end of the year. The remainder - mostly those supporting international flying - will return more slowly."
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There will be 1,450 losses in the corporate sector due to less flying activity, 1,500 in ground operations, 1,050 cabin crew, 630 engineering jobs, and at least 220 pilots will get the chop.
Featured Image Credit: PA