Australian flag carrier Qantas has announced plans to outsource approximately 850 corporate jobs, with the majority of roles being relocated to India, as part of an initiative to modernize its IT systems and invest more in artificial intelligence (AI). The job cuts are expected to commence in mid-2027 and will primarily affect finance, procurement, human resources, and marketing departments. In a staff email on Tuesday, Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson acknowledged the potential impact on employees, stating that "the scale and speed of change in technology and AI is something none of us has seen in our lifetime." The airline is currently engaging with unions and staff to discuss the changes. This decision comes shortly after Qantas disclosed higher fuel costs, prompting fare increases and flight reductions. The new multi-year deal with consulting giant Accenture aims to modernize Qantas's IT systems, making them more efficient. Currently spending over AU$1bn yearly on technology, Qantas believes its back-end systems require an upgrade due to their antiquated nature, consisting of over 1,000 legacy applications designed for a bygone era. By partnering with Accenture, Qantas aims to streamline and simplify parts of its corporate functions, reducing duplication, allowing employees to focus on value-adding tasks for customers and the business. In time, the work taken over by Accenture is expected to be further transformed through automation and AI. Thousands of Qantas staff already utilize AI in their daily work. The Australian Services Union has been contacted for comment regarding this development.