KATHMANDU: Qantas Airlines said it will axe 6,000 jobs in a bid to stay afloat through the coronavirus pandemic.

The cuts equate to about a fifth of the airline’s workforce prior to the Covid-19 crisis.

In March, it furloughed more than 80% of its staff after the collapse in global air travel took a toll on revenues, according to BBC.

Last week, the Australian government said its border would most likely remain closed into next year.

It prompted Qantas to cancel all international flights until late October, except for those to New Zealand.

On Thursday, chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline expected smaller revenues in the next three years, forcing it to become a smaller operation to survive.

“The actions we must take will have a huge impact on thousands of our people,” he said in a statement.

“But the collapse in billions of dollars in revenue leaves us little choice if we are to save as many jobs as possible, long term.”