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Qantas Airlines has added a new job responsibility for some of its senior executives: baggage handler.

The Australian airline is asking 100 executives to pitch in with baggage handling duties for three months at its Sydney and Melboure airports because it can’t hire enough workers to do the job, according to an internal memo shared widely.

Management blamed the situation on a tight labor market in Australia, which is compounded by “high levels of winter flu and Covid” according to the reports.

“We’ve been clear that our operational performance has not been meeting our customers’ expectations or the standards that we expect of ourselves — and that we’ve been pulling out all stops to improve our performance,” a Qantas spokesperson told CNN Business.


  Qantas airlines is asking its executives to help fill in as baggage handlers during a labor crunch. Getty Images for Tourism Austral Qantas airlines is asking its executives to help fill in as baggage handlers during a labor crunch. Getty Images for Tourism Austral

  The Australian airline has had difficulty hiring enough workers recently as Covid and flu take out its regular workforce and make hiring new workers difficult. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Im The Australian airline has had difficulty hiring enough workers recently as Covid and flu take out its regular workforce and make hiring new workers difficult. Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Im

Executives who accept the challenge have to be “physically capable of moving and lifting bags of up to 32 kg (71 pounds) in weight,” Qantas chief operating officer Colin Hughes said in a note to staff, according to the memo.

Qantas asked for help from its executive ranks during Easter as well and about 200 head-office employees volunteered to temporarily fill in for overworked ground crews, according to reports.


  About 200 executives helped the airline out during the Easter holiday season filling in as baggage handlers. Bloomberg via Getty Images About 200 executives helped the airline out during the Easter holiday season filling in as baggage handlers. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Other airlines and airports are struggling as well.

Over the weekend more than 900 flights were canceled in the US and 6,300 were delayed due to weather related issues and staff shortages. Lost luggage has become an increasingly vexing problem for travelers.


  The Australian airline sent out a memo to staffers appealing for help. Getty Images The Australian airline sent out a memo to staffers appealing for help. Getty Images

Last week, the Department of Transportation introduced a proposal that would reimburse passengers if airlines delay flights by more than three hours for a domestic flight and at least six hours for an international flight.

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