The Andrews Labor Government has signed a landmark agreement with the Qantas Group that will create hundreds of jobs for Victorians – and secure hundreds more existing jobs in the aviation and related industries.

Under the agreement announced today, Qantas will establish its principal engineering line maintenance hub and a new Jetstar engineering heavy maintenance facility at Melbourne Airport. In addition, Qantas confirmed that Jetstar’s headquarters would remain in Victoria.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said the deal reflected the confidence that businesses had in Victoria’s recovery and economic future, and would make the state an even more attractive place to invest for the aviation industry.

The major expansion of Qantas Group’s engineering facilities at Melbourne Airport boosts Victoria’s reputation for world-class R&D, engineering, supply chain management and logistics.

The engineering hubs will create at least 300 direct jobs and an estimated 400 indirect jobs, as well as increased training and apprenticeship opportunities, providing an estimated $140 million boost to gross state product.

The expanded engineering facilities are also expected to lead to the creation of additional job opportunities for pilots and cabin crew as the number of aircraft being based in Melbourne overnight for maintenance increases.

The agreement secures the retention of all 750 jobs at Jetstar’s headquarters, currently in Collingwood, as well as the estimated 950 indirect jobs supported by the company’s corporate activities in the state. Jetstar contributes more than $300 million to the Victorian economy each year with the prospect of future growth.

With Jetstar already seeing a surge in demand for domestic travel across Australia, the new deal will position Victoria to harness those growth opportunities, build the state’s standing as a leading international aviation centre and boost our credentials as a location of choice for other high-value global businesses.