Qantas expands network, establishes first overseas cabin crew base in Singapore

Qantas Airways is set to open its first overseas cabin crew base in Singapore in September 2026, marking a significant expansion of the Australian carrier’s international operations as it strengthens its position at one of Asia’s busiest aviation hubs.

The airline intends to recruit 120 cabin crew members during the first year of operations, with ambitions to scale the Singapore base to 650 staff within five years. The positions will be available exclusively to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, with job advertisements going live on February 27, 2026.

Network efficiency and operational strategy

According to Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace, the Singapore base will enable more efficient operations across the airline’s growing international network, while improving response times to flight disruptions. Singapore-based crew will operate flights between Singapore and Australia, where Qantas currently maintains non-stop services to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Darwin, with an average of 50 weekly flights.

The Straits Times reported that the move represents Qantas’s commitment to Singapore as its largest overseas hub, with the airline steadily building its presence there over recent years.

Starting December 7, 2026,  Qantas will nearly double its Airbus A380 usage on Singapore-Sydney routes, increasing premium seat capacity by 18% across 13 weekly services. This capacity expansion aligns with the establishment of the local crew base to support enhanced operations.

Jetstar restructuring impacts transition

The opening of the Singapore base coincides with the closure of Jetstar Airways’ Singapore cabin crew base, as the low-cost subsidiary streamlines its operating model. Jetstar, Qantas’s budget airline division, is set to shut down its Singapore crew operations while maintaining flight services to the city-state.

Approximately 50 Singapore-based Jetstar cabin crew members will be offered positions with the new Qantas base. Former cabin crew from Jetstar Asia, which ceased operations in July 2025, will also be eligible to apply for roles with the mainline carrier.

This transition should allow Qantas to consolidate crew operations under its premium brand, while retaining experienced aviation professionals familiar with Singapore’s operational environment and regulatory requirements.

Broader workforce expansion plans

The Singapore initiative forms part of Qantas Group’s broader employment strategy to create 8,500 new jobs across Australia by 2030. This workforce expansion includes plans for an additional 3,500 cabin crew members and more than 1,000 pilots, as both Qantas and Jetstar continue adding aircraft and expanding route networks.

A new Jetstar cabin crew base will open in Perth in the latter part of 2026, creating 90 additional roles to support the airline’s domestic and regional international operations from Western Australia.

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