New Qantas boss eyes clean slate with unions

Incoming Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson will seek to reshape the airline's relationship with unions after a turbulent run with long-standing chief Alan Joyce.

Ms Hudson, now chief financial officer, was unveiled as Mr Joyce's successor on Tuesday, the first female to step into the top job in Qantas' century-long history.

In her first remarks, Ms Hudson outlined her desire for a transparent relationship with union leaders based on mutual trust.

"I'm looking forward to meeting unions and our union leaders and I look forward to developing a constructive relationship with them, for the benefit our people, but also for the benefit of our organisation," she told reporters.

"Relationships are based on being transparent, and also having mutual trust together.

"So focusing on that constructive relationship, to the benefit of our people, but also to the benefit of our organisation, is what's going to be my focus."

Mr Joyce will leave Qantas in November after 15 years at the helm.

Under his stewardship, the flag carrier has encountered multiple legal challenges including a fight in the High Court against 1700 sacked Qantas ground handlers and action by SafeWork NSW over the sacking of a health and safety representative.

Mr Joyce defended Qantas's approach under his leadership, saying "every other airline in the globe has got similar problems".

"The thing that makes Qantas special is its people," he said.

"There's a difference between our people and the unions - sometimes people forget that our people are highly engaged."

Labor senator Tony Sheldon called on Mr Joyce to give Qantas workers and customers "an early Christmas present" by resigning immediately.

The former Transport Workers Union national secretary also called for changes at the board level for "having greenlit every greedy, illegal action taken throughout the Joyce era".

"Alan Joyce has left a massive task for the next CEO, who must restore the spirit of Australia to Qantas and end Alan Joyce's ideological war on its loyal workforce and frustrated customers," Senator Sheldon said in a statement.

Australian and International Pilots Association President Tony Lucas said the union's members were long-term Qantas employees and invested in its success.

"We look forward to working with Vanessa in her new role to ensure the continuing growth of the Qantas Group to the benefit of the travelling public, staff and shareholders."