Qantas will sack 2000 people across 10 Australian airports as part of its operational overhaul to ensure it can fly beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

Total job losses at Qantas is now around 8500 of its 29,000 pre-pandemic workforce.

The aviation industry has been financially obliterated by COVID-19, with the health crisis causing Qantas to report a $2.7 billion statutory loss for the 2020 financial year.

The airports hit include international and domestic operations at Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Ground services at Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Cairns, Darwin, Townsville and Alice Springs have also been hit.

Qantas chief executive of domestic and international operations Andrew David, said the industry had been turned “upside down” and it would take years to recoup the financial damage inflicted by the global shutdown.

“Unfortunately, COVID has turned aviation upside down. Airlines around the world are having to make dramatic decisions in order to survive, and the damage will take years to repair,” he said.

The airline said sacked staff would be entitled to redundancy packages.

It is expected the outsourcing of ground-handling operations will reduce costs by $100 million.