Qantas has booked in at least one of its 747s for an overhaul in Singapore despite promising only a fortnight ago to keep the maintenance work in Australia.Unions are angry over the move, worried that more repair work on Qantas jets will go overseas.

The Australian Federal Government says it has received an assurance from Qantas that a plan to send one of its planes overseas is a one-off transitional measure.

The 747 is being sent to Singapore next month while the airline’s Australian maintenance facilities are relocated from Sydney to Melbourne.

Qantas says it remains committed to keeping its aircraft maintenance operations in Australia.

QANTAS STATEMENT ON AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

Qantas said today it was still committed to keeping aircraft heavy maintenance work in Australia.

The Executive General Manager of Qantas Engineering, Mr David Cox, said the arrangement for a single Boeing 747-400 aircraft to undergo a heavy maintenance check in Singapore next month was not out of the norm.

“We are in a transition period ahead of moving our heavy maintenance operations to Avalon,” Mr Cox said.

“On occasion we carry out maintenance work offshore - work that is done by qualified, reputable and fully certified service providers.  We have made no secret of this and it will continue when necessary.

“To be clear - right now we have plans for one aircraft to undergo a maintenance check overseas, however we will always reserve the right to send some work offshore to meet operational requirements where necessary.”
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