Qantas staff have been left fuming by the airline's announcement it would pay "$2500 bonuses" to workers after making a record-breaking profit, only for it to be revealed they had to sign new wage deals to receive it.

Some workers will not be eligible for the $2000 cash component for up to four years, and the offer has led to accusations the airline was trying to "bribe" staff to accept sub-standard pay conditions.

Qantas said it was surprised by the push-back. Credit:Brendon Thorne

“Qantas is going to withhold the $2000 pre-tax bonus as a bribe until after the employees agree to their next sub-standard wage offer," said Steve Purvinas, federal secretary of the engineering union, the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers’ Association.

Teri O’Toole, secretary of the Flight Attendant’s Association of Australia international division, said her members, whose current wage deal does not expire until 2021, felt they had been "slapped in the face" by the deal, which also precludes them from taking industrial action.