· 
In short: A compensation matter for former Qantas staff who were illegally sacked has returned to court today seeking millions of dollars.

· The airline announced the sackings in August 2020 after COVID lockdown losses.

· What's next? The hearing will continue in the Federal Court for the next two weeks.

Unions representing hundreds of former Qantas workers are seeking millions of dollars in compensation over their illegal sacking during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The compensation hearing has started in the Federal Court in Sydney in what unions are describing as the largest case of its type in Australia's corporate history.

The matter has returned to the Federal Court after the High Court last September unanimously rejected the airline's attempt to overturn previous verdicts that it illegally sacked some staff.

Qantas announced the sackings in August 2020 with the jobs then outsourced.

The airline had argued during legal proceedings that it was for sound commercial reasons after business plummeted during COVID lockdowns.

Ahead of today's court proceedings the Transport Workers Union (TWU), acting on behalf of the workers, said it is time for Qantas to pay up.

"These workers have been dragged, dragged to hell and back through two painful unsuccessful appeals, through a failed mediation process," TWU National Secretary Michael Kaine said outside court.

"Their lives have been dislocated, they've lost properties, there's been family breakdowns," he added.

One of the affected workers, Don Dixon, said it has been a tough period.

"We did absolutely nothing wrong expect turn up, do our job, go home and keep the travelling public safe," he said.

'They were out of work for a period of time'

Lawyers acting for the union said the hearing will feature three test cases which will determine the amount of compensation.

"The process starts with just three test cases which the court will then rule on and that will guide the amounts of compensation to be provided to the rest," principal lawyer with Maurice Blackburn, Josh Bornstein, said.

He indicated that if the workers were stood down legally, they would have been employed for longer and entitled to compensation.

"The compensation bill would have been very substantial, running into the many millions of dollars," said Mr Bornstein.

The lawyer for the Transport Workers Union, Mark Gibian SC, today told the Federal Court there are 1,600 workers seeking compensation.

"They have suffered loss; they were out of work for a period of time," he said.

Justice Michael Lee indicated he wants to decide on compensation for the workers as soon as possible.

Qantas has also outlined it hopes the matter is dealt with a soon as practical.

"We want them to receive fair compensation as quickly as possible," a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement.

"Qantas sincerely apologises and deeply regrets the personal impact the outsourcing decision had on these former employees," the company added.

The hearing runs for two weeks.