Qantas's CEO Alan Joyce has slammed the claims of unions about the airline's new international strategy announced on Tuesday.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said: “Trade unions need to explain why they continue to trash the Qantas brand and are opposed to changes which will protect the long-term jobs of the majority of their members.”

Accusations that Qantas was outsourcing and offshoring jobs, and devaluing the Qantas brand, were completely incorrect, he said.

“Qantas is one of the biggest employers in Australia,” Joyce said.

“We employ over 35,000 people and have employees in every state and territory nationwide.

“Of the 1000 positions that will be made redundant, not a single job will be lost as a result of Qantas' plans to invest in a new premium airline in Asia.

Joyce said Qantas will always be owned by Australians and have the majority of its operations and employees based in the country.

“The new strategy we announced for Qantas International yesterday is about ensuring that Qantas as a whole is competitive and sustainable for the next 10 years and beyond,” he said.