Changes 'won't affect NZ staff'

Jetstar Group chief executive Bruce Buchanan has said that there would not be an impact on New Zealand staff from the new Qantas strategy. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Qantas Group is working through the details of what its new strategy will mean for staff, with about 1000 jobs affected, although no significant impact is expected in New Zealand.

"We're happy with how our New Zealand services are going and we're not really looking to adjust them in the short term," a spokesman said.

As part of Qantas' strategy, new airline Jetstar Japan would be launched with domestic operations expected to start by the end of 2012 and plans to ultimately offer short-haul international services to key Asian cities.

Jetstar Group chief executive Bruce Buchanan said there would not be an impact on New Zealand staff from the new Qantas strategy.

The low-fare carrier had about 500 employees and eight aircraft based in New Zealand.

"We're just continuing to recruit just to fund the growth. We've been continuing to do that for a long time," Buchanan said. "We're recruiting in just about every one of our businesses at the moment," he said.

Jetstar flies from Auckland to Japan via Singapore.