Qantas has announced it will suspend all international flights and temporarily stand down two-thirds of its staff.

All scheduled Qantas and Jetstar international flights will be grounded from the end of March after the government upgraded its travel advice to level four ‘do not travel’.

They will also reduce their domestic fleet by 60 per cent.

Two-thirds of Qantas employees will be temporarily stood down in an attempt to preserve jobs through the coronavirus crisis.

Transport Workers Union Secretary Michael Kaine tells Deborah Knight the news is disappointing.

“It is devastating news.

“We’re going to be relying on them when this crisis is over to open that gateway again and get Australia moving again.”

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