SINGAPORE- Qantas Airways (QF) will establish its first cabin crew base in Singapore from September, marking a strategic expansion of its international operations at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
The airline plans to recruit 120 crew members in the first year and scale up to 650 within five years, reinforcing Singapore’s role as Qantas’ largest overseas hub.
Qantas Plans Singapore Cabin Crew Base
Qantas confirmed that the Singapore-based cabin crew will operate flights between Singapore and Australia. The roles are open to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, with the airline offering competitive salary packages.
Cam Wallace, Chief Executive of Qantas International, stated that the new base will improve operational efficiency across its expanding international network. Locating crew in Singapore will allow faster response to flight disruptions and better resource allocation on high-demand routes.
Singapore ranks as Qantas’ third-largest hub overall after Sydney and Melbourne. It remains the carrier’s most important international gateway outside Australia, connecting Europe-bound and Asia-Pacific passengers through Changi Airport, The Straits Times reported.
Jetstar Base Closure and Crew Transition
As part of the restructuring, Jetstar Airways (JQ), Qantas’ Australia-headquartered low-cost subsidiary, will close its Singapore cabin crew base. The airline described the move as part of efforts to streamline its low-cost operating model.
Qantas expects to offer new positions to approximately 50 Singapore-based Jetstar cabin crew members. Former cabin crew from Jetstar Asia, which ceased operations in July 2025, will also be eligible to apply for roles at the new Qantas base.
This transition allows Qantas to consolidate crew operations under its mainline brand while retaining experienced aviation professionals in Singapore.
Increased Airbus A380 Operations
Qantas also announced a significant increase in Airbus A380 deployment on the Singapore–Sydney route. From December 7, the airline will operate its 485-seat Airbus A380 aircraft on 13 of the 14 weekly flights between Singapore and Sydney.
The remaining weekly service will continue using the Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.
The increased use of the double-deck A380 reflects strong passenger demand on the route and underscores Singapore’s importance within Qantas’ long-haul network strategy.
Strategic Importance of Singapore Hub
The decision to establish a cabin crew base and expand A380 services highlights Qantas’ long-term commitment to Singapore as a critical transit and destination market.
By positioning crew locally and increasing wide-body capacity, Qantas strengthens schedule reliability, optimizes aircraft utilization, and enhances its competitive position in the Asia-Pacific corridor.
The move also reinforces Singapore Changi Airport’s status as a major aviation hub linking Australia with Asia and Europe.
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