In a bid to modernize its technology infrastructure and leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Australian airline Qantas has announced that it will outsource approximately 850 corporate roles to global consulting giant Accenture, with most positions moving to India. The job reallocation, set to commence in mid-2027, will primarily affect finance, procurement, human resources, and marketing departments. Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson acknowledged the impact of this decision on employees, expressing regret for the uncertainty it brings. The move comes as a response to the rapid advancements in technology and AI, which Hudson characterized as unprecedented in their scale and speed. In discussions with unions and staff, Qantas is working out the specifics of this partnership, which aims to modernize its IT systems and make operations more efficient. Currently spending over AU$1bn annually on technology, Qantas acknowledges that its legacy systems require upgrading due to their outdated nature. The Accenture deal will enable Qantas to restructure and streamline parts of its corporate functions, reducing duplication and allowing staff to focus on customer-valued work. In time, the outsourced tasks will be further optimized through automation and AI. Staff affected by job cuts will be offered redeployment opportunities where feasible, including new roles in Australia. Qantas, with a workforce of around 32,000 in Australia and another 4,000 globally, emphasizes that thousands of its employees are already utilizing AI in their daily tasks. The Australian Services Union has been contacted for comment on this development.