Qantas has asked at least 100 senior executives to volunteer as baggage handlers for three months due to a staff shortage.

It is looking for staff to load and unload bags at Sydney and Melbourne airports, where they will also be expected to drive luggage vehicles.

“The high levels of winter flu and a COVID spike across the community, coupled with the ongoing tight labour market, make resourcing a challenge across our industry,” Qantas Chief Operating Officer Colin Hughes said in an email to staff, which was shared with the BBC.

“There is no expectation that you will opt into this role on top of your full-time position,” Mr Hughes added.

Managers and executives were asked to work in baggage handling for three or five days a week, for four or six hours a day.

The email went on to say that applicants need to be able to move bags weighing as much as 32kg each.

“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 the BBC.

“As we have done in the past during busy periods, around 200 head office staff have helped at airports during peak travel periods since Easter.”