Monday's decision follows a December agreement on a compensation fund of A$120 million struck by the airline and the sacked workers. During the pandemic in 2020, Qantas’ senior management decided to lay off 1,820 ground staff and shift their work to contractors.

A judge has fined Qantas Airways $59 million for illegally firing over 1,800 ground staff at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee has imposed the largest fine on a company under the Fair Work Act for illegally sacking more than 1800 workers.