A court ordered Australia’s largest airline, Qantas Airways, on Monday to pay a record fine of A$90 million ($58.64 million) for illegally sacking 1,800 ground staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and criticized it for a lack of contrition.

An Australian court on Monday fined national flag carrier Qantas nearly $60 million for illegally firing more than 1,800 ground workers and then outsourcing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SYDNEY: An Australian court fined Qantas A$90 million (US$59 million) on Monday (Aug 18) for illegally laying off 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, ending a five-year legal battle over the workers' rights.