Qantas Airways is paying back millions of dollars to hundreds of corporate and administrative staff after admitting it had underpaid them for several years.

Almost 640 workers have so far been repaid $7.1 million in wages and entitlements, as well as $2 million in interest and $1000 bonuses by the airline, which is in the midst of a crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Qantas has admitted to underpaying its workers millions of dollars. Credit:Dallas Kilponen

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said her office had accepted an enforceable undertaking from Qantas to repay the workers after the airline reported the issue to the regulator in February last year.

"Qantas has come forward and admitted to breaching the Fair Work Act for several years and significantly underpaying hundreds of its employees several million dollars," Ms Parker said in a statement on Friday.