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<H1><FONT size=2>[from news.com.au]</FONT></H1>
<H1>Fuel costs to claim 1000 jobs</H1>
<DIV id=promoTopRight>From: AAP </DIV>
<DIV id=storyAuthor>
<DIV id=storyAuthorName></DIV><BR>May 18, 2006 </DIV>
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<P class=storyBodyInitial>QANTAS will reportedly axe another 1000 white-collar
jobs this year as the company faces a looming $1 billion surge in its annual
fuel bill.</P>Chief executive Geoff Dixon informed staff of the latest job cuts
in a message yesterday, according to newspaper reports today.
<P>The market was yet to be given details, the Fairfax papers said.
<P>The cuts should deliver tens of millions of dollars in savings.
<P>Mr Dixon told staff the airline had "reluctantly" decided to cut management,
support and administration positions by 20 per cent across the group, resulting
in a reduction of about 1000 positions in the first half of the 2006-07
financial year.
<P>"We have proposed and grown through previous crises in our industry by
changing our cost base and this is again necessary," he was quoted as saying.
</P>
<P>The announcement coincides with an annual review this week by the Qantas
board of the airline's three-year strategy. </P>
<P>The massive increase in the cost of jet fuel was a key concern in the board's
considerations, Mr Dixon said. </P></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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