Qantas Airways boss Alan Joyce had a pay rise to almost $2 million in the past financial year, while thousands of staff were cut due to the effect of COVID-19.
Mr Joyce took home more than the $1.74 million he collected the previous financial year, when sales were at their lowest levels.
The chief executive’s earnings have been about 80 per cent less than his pre-pandemic annual earnings of about $10 million, according to Qantas’ annual report.
Bonuses have in the past helped Mr Joyce earn much more than his base salary of $2.17 million.
Executives last year took pay cuts as sales plummeted from bans on flying overseas and quarantine rules.
The company in August posted a full-year net loss of $1.73 billion for 2021.
Chairman Richard Goyder told staff on Friday that board members were considering a bonus for all employees.
Workers have had a two-year wage freeze as part of the airline’s efforts to conserve money.
Qantas remuneration committee chairman Paul Rayner said the challenges and demands put on employees had caused significant attrition.
Continuing loss of experienced workers would affect the airline’s ability to meet its goals, he said.
Retaining executives was the focus and any bonuses will be paid via a separate plan to non-executive staff.
More than 8,500 Qantas workers have either been cut or taken redundancies since last year. There were about 29,000 workers before the pandemic.
Qantas shares on the ASX were higher by 1.19 per cent to $5.51 at 1556 AEST.
