In an announcement on Tuesday, Qantas, the Australian airline, revealed plans to outsource approximately 850 corporate jobs to consulting giant Accenture, with most positions relocating to teams in India. The decision is part of a strategy to modernize the airline's IT systems and accelerate AI investment. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson acknowledged that this move may bring uncertainty for affected staff but emphasized the need for change due to rapid technological advancements. The job cuts, which are scheduled to commence in mid-2027, will initially affect finance, procurement, human resources, and marketing roles, with some positions remaining in Australia. The aim is to streamline corporate functions, eliminate redundancies, and enhance efficiency by leveraging AI and automation. Qantas spends over AU$1 billion annually on technology, with its outdated back-end systems requiring significant upgrades. The new multi-year partnership with Accenture will facilitate the modernization of these systems. According to Hudson, this transformation will enable staff to focus more on tasks that create value for customers and the business. The company plans to redeploy affected employees wherever possible, including in new roles within Australia. Qantas currently employs around 28,000 people in Australia and another 4,000 globally. Thousands of its staff are already utilizing AI in their daily work. The airline has been in discussions with unions and staff regarding these plans, and the Australian Services Union has been contacted for comment by the BBC.