On October 23, Qantas announced the appointment of Mr Chris Nassenstein as Executive Manager Qantas Engineering.

Group Executive Qantas Operations, Mr Lyell Strambi, said Mr Nassenstein, who is currently head of Air New Zealand's engineering operations, would commence in February 2010.

"Qantas Engineering is one of the largest aircraft engineering and maintenance organisations in the Asia-Pacific region," Mr Strambi said.

"The operation employs more than 5,700 people at facilities across Australia and, after an extensive internal and external search, we have appointed Chris to lead this vital arm of Qantas.

"Qantas Engineering has a well established international reputation for operational excellence and safety and a long and successful history of internal appointments to this important role.

"However Chris' appointment represents a rare opportunity for us to bring external experience and a global perspective to this position and our engineering operations."

Chris Nassenstein's international experience spans five countries. For the past five years, he has led Air New Zealand's Engineering operations as General Manager Technical Operations. Prior to this, he held the senior engineering posts at Air Transat, Lan Chile, Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. Earlier in his career, he worked for McDonnell Douglas USA and the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Mr Strambi said Qantas continued to invest in its Australian engineering and maintenance operations.

"We spend more than AU$1.4 billion each year on the maintenance of our aircraft, which includes employing a large, diverse, skilled, dedicated and motivated workforce," he said.

Qantas recently announced that it would employ 100 engineering apprentices from February 2010 to ensure its engineering business was skilled for the future.

Airbus A330 heavy maintenance will also be undertaken in Australia, at Qantas Engineering's Brisbane Heavy Maintenance facility, from early 2010.