Australia's largest airline, Qantas, has been fined millions for illegal mass layoffs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline must pay a fine of 90 million Australian dollars (approximately 50 million euros) for the dismissal of approximately 1,800 employees whose jobs were outsourced to external service providers. Experts called this a record fine.

More than half of this amount will go to the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the responsible Federal Court ruled on Monday. The use of the remaining €40 million will be decided at a later date. "Illegally depriving someone of their job means depriving them of part of their human dignity, and this loss cannot be mitigated by mere verbal expressions of regret," the ruling stated.

The union had demanded the maximum fine of 121 million Australian dollars, while Qantas argued for a "medium" fine of 40 to 80 million.

The affected employees had previously been awarded $120 million in compensation. The airline had agreed on this amount with the union in December.

Judge Michael Lee criticized the airline for its lack of remorse, saying Qantas was more concerned about the damage to its reputation than the consequences for the dismissed employees. "The company fought back until it could fight back no longer," the judge said.

Legal experts called it the highest penalty ever imposed in Australia for labor law violations. "The ruling shows that courts will not tolerate attacks on workers' rights," ABC quoted labor lawyer Josh Bornstein as saying. It was "enormous misconduct" by Qantas. The company used the coronavirus pandemic to achieve its long-held goal—to force the TWU and its members, who worked as baggage handlers and ground staff, out of the company.