Qantas Airways is set to compensate 1,820 airport ground staff after a High Court ruling deemed their pandemic-era dismissals illegal. 

Federal Court sessions starting this week aim to finalise compensation amounts for the affected workers. The court has allocated two weeks to hear three test cases, representing distinct groups of former employees. 

These hearings are pivotal in establishing compensation benchmarks based on various criteria, including the workers' subsequent employment status, age, and duration of service with Qantas. 

This process will eventually lead to a comprehensive compensation package, potentially amounting to millions.

The situation began when the airline, under economic strain due to COVID-19 restrictions, opted for mass layoffs in August 2020. 

Qantas justified the decision as a necessary measure to stem financial losses, a stance that was later challenged legally. 

The Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing the sacked employees, has been driving the legal issue to the forefront, seeking to highlight the hardships faced by the workers due to the abrupt terminations.

Qantas, expressing regret over the ordeal, has committed to ensuring fair compensation. 

Vanessa Hudson, Qantas Chief Executive, initially engaged in compensation discussions, which unfortunately stalled, leaving the matter for the courts to resolve.