Which Airlines Are Hiring Flight Attendants in Australia Right Now?

One of the most common questions I get from aspiring flight attendants is: who is actually hiring right now? It is a fair question. Airline recruitment is not always publicly advertised with big banners. Sometimes positions open quickly and fill just as fast. So I want to give you an honest picture of where the opportunities are in Australia in 2025 and 2026, based on what I am seeing in the industry.

Qantas Group: Multiple Entry Points

Qantas is not one job. The Qantas Group has several distinct cabin crew workforces, each with different bases, aircraft types, and lifestyle expectations. Understanding this before you apply matters.

Qantas Airways Limited (QAL) is the international long-haul operation. Crew are based in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and work the wide-body fleet including the A380 and B787. These roles attract strong competition because of the international routes and the prestige of the Qantas brand.

Qantas Domestic runs the short and medium-haul domestic network, with bases in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. If you want to fly domestically and stay close to home, this is the pathway to look at.

QantasLink operates regional routes across Australia through several subsidiaries including Sunstate Airlines and Eastern Australian Airlines. These roles can be a strong starting point if you are newer to the industry, and they give you real flying experience with the Qantas Group behind you.

Qantas recruitment is done entirely through their Qantas careers page. They do not accept walk-in applications. When roles open, they tend to receive hundreds of applications quickly, so having your resume and cover letter ready before a position is advertised is not overthinking it. It is just smart preparation.

Virgin Australia: Actively Recruiting

Virgin Australia has been hiring cabin crew consistently through late 2025 and into 2026. Their culture is different to Qantas. Where Qantas leans toward formality and precision, Virgin puts personality front and centre. They want people who are genuinely warm, not just professionally polished.

Their group assessments reflect this. You will be observed in social settings as much as formal interview scenarios. How you interact with other candidates matters. Interviewers are watching whether you listen, include others, and stay calm under pressure, not just whether you give polished answers to scripted questions.

If Virgin is on your list, check Seek and the Virgin Australia careers page regularly. Positions come up at multiple bases including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Emirates: Open Days Across Australia

Emirates holds open days across Australia several times a year. These are walk-in recruitment events where you show up, present yourself, and go through initial screening on the spot. No prior application needed, though knowing exactly what Emirates is looking for before you walk in makes a real difference.

Emirates is based in Dubai, which means if you are hired, you relocate. That is a significant life decision and worth thinking through properly before you commit to the process. The lifestyle can be extraordinary, but the transition is real.

What Emirates looks for is consistent across all their open days: professional presentation, minimum arm reach of 212cm, no visible tattoos in uniform, and strong English communication skills. They want people who are genuinely service-minded and who can stay composed in a high-pressure, multicultural environment.

Open days in Australia have recently been held in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast. Check the Emirates Group careers page for current scheduled dates.

Etihad and Qatar: Worth Watching

Both Etihad (Abu Dhabi) and Qatar Airways (Doha) run open days globally and do periodically recruit in Australia. Their processes are similar to Emirates in format but each has a distinct culture. Qatar in particular is known for a rigorous multi-stage process with strict presentation standards. If either airline is your goal, it pays to research their specific criteria rather than treating the Middle Eastern carriers as interchangeable.

Jetstar and Rex: Not to Be Overlooked

If your goal is to get flying hours and real cabin crew experience, Jetstar and Rex (Regional Express) are worth considering. Both hire regularly and offer a genuine path into aviation. Some of the most prepared candidates I have worked with over the years started on regional routes and built from there.

Rex has a minimum requirement of three years secondary education completed in Australia or New Zealand, or three years of work experience in Australia or New Zealand within the last five years. This is worth checking carefully before you apply.

How to Be Ready When Roles Open

The mistake most people make is starting their preparation after a position is advertised. By the time you find the listing, polish your resume, and write a cover letter, the early applicant pool has already formed. Airlines notice who applies in the first 24 to 48 hours.

Have your resume done now. Have your cover letter template ready. Know which airlines you are targeting and what their specific criteria are. That way, when something opens, you apply the same day.

My Interview Preparation Manual covers the recruitment process for all the major airlines listed here, including what each one looks for at each stage of the interview. If you want to go further with personalised preparation, my coaching sessions are available face-to-face or via Teams wherever you are in Australia.

The jobs are there. The question is whether you are ready when they come up.