Flight attendants fight for $200 weekly pay rise

The Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA) has made an application to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) seeking an increase of approximately $200, or around 20 per cent, and an overhaul of the industry award for flight attendants.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on HR Leader’s sister brand, Australian Aviation.

Addressing the changing role of “keeping passengers happy” to “protecting the flight deck at any cost”, the application seeks to reflect the overlooked roles and responsibilities that flight attendants across Australian skies provide.

Currently, the minimum pay for cabin crew in Australia is $1,012 a week; the FAAA is looking to have this increased to $1,203.

“With an almost 80 per cent female work group, we are trying to address the gender wage gap, but also reasonable rest periods to address fatigue, caring responsibilities and general work/life balance needs,” FAAA federal secretary Teri O’Toole told The Australian.

Pushing for revised conditions involving rest breaks, overtime pay, irregular shifts and compensation for the increased security and non-plane related emergency roles that flight attendants now perform, FAAA industrial relations manager Steven Reed said, “cabin crew are the first responders in the sky”, and their pay and work conditions should better reflect this.

“At 35,000 feet, they are expected to act as paramedics, police officers, firefighters, medical professionals and carers, yet their pay and conditions don’t reflect this reality,” he told The Australian.

Australia’s largest airlines are covered by an enterprise agreement, whereas regional airlines are covered under modern awards. O’Toole said the current award covering flight attendants needs to change.

“The cabin crew modern award is less of a safety net and more of a lead weight dragging down conditions and protections,” she said.

The FAAA also raised safety concerns in domestic flight staffing requirements after the number of crew required on domestic flights was lowered to one flight attendant for every 50 passengers in some cases.

“It not only increases the workload of the three-cabin crew by 25 per cent, it means one crew member must cover off two (aircraft) doors instead of one,” Reed said.

The Fair Work Commission review of the modern award will be heard in March next year. The application follows a submission to the FWC’s 2025 wage review earlier this year by the FAAA calling for a 5 per cent wage increase.

The FAAA was contacted for comment.