Qantas Chairman Refuses To Quit Under Investor Pressure

Australia's Qantas Airways' chairman has refused to step down even as investors continue to demand his resignation amid a slew of scandals that have affected the carrier, ABC News reported, citing an interview on a radio program.

Chairman Richard Goyder said he has confidence in the Qantas board, and major investors want him to continue in his position. I Photo: Bowra & O’Dea

The company is facing a regulatory lawsuit accusing it of breaching consumer law by selling fares for 8,000 flights that were canceled in mid-2022, leading to the abrupt resignation of CEO Alan Joyce.

In his first interview since these allegations by the country's competition regulator in late August, Chairman Richard Goyder said he has confidence in the Qantas board, and major investors want him to continue in his position, according to the news website, Reuters also reported.

"I can't say much about this at the moment because it's a legal case. But any suggestion that we took fees for no service is just wrong," Goyder said.

He did not comment further on the allegations. Goyder was appointed to the board in November 2017 and named chairman in October 2018.

Separately, Australia's top court earlier this week ruled that the airline broke the law by laying off 1,700 ground staff and replacing them with contractors early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

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