Qantas ex-CEO takes 900% pay rise, but bonus cut amid scandals

Australia’s Qantas Airways said its former CEO took a pay increase of 872% as he collected years’ worth of long-term incentives on the way out, but added it was cutting and withholding hefty bonuses amid damaging lawsuits.

Alan Joyce, who retired early this month after a regulator lawsuit accused Qantas (QAN.AX) of selling tickets on thousands of already-cancelled flights, took home A$21.4 million in the 2023 financial year, according to the company’s annual report, published on Wednesday.

Most of the amount was share-based incentives that Joyce was allowed to cash in after they vested, according to the report. Joyce’s total pay for the previous year was A$2.3 million.

Qantas cut an additional short-term bonus for Joyce by one-fifth of the A$2.7 million available and withheld it pending the outcome of two lawsuits that may result in hefty fines and further reputational turbulence for the company, the report added.

“In recognition of the customer and brand impact of cumulative events, the Board has applied its discretion to reduce short-term incentives” for Joyce and other executives, Chairman Richard Goyder said in the report.

The company was able to recall A$8.4 million of share-based bonuses Joyce collected in the year but is not yet allowed to sell, the report added. It could also “claw back” unvested stock bonuses for Joyce, currently worth A$6 million, it said.

This report’s information was first seen on REUTERS; to read more, click this link.