The Australian and International Pilots Association accused Qantas's management of seeking to ''smash its pilots'' as the airline ''trashes its brand'', in negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

At the core of the battle between the airline and the union is job security for pilots, employment conditions and the size of a pay rise.

''We have been informed that regardless of any efficiencies we are willing to provide, no formal job security provision will ever be given,'' said union president Barry Jackson, warning that Qantas planned to set up more low-cost bases offshore.

''In other words, 'no matter how low you go, we will always look for someone cheaper','' Mr Jackson said.

But Qantas hit back, characterising job security threats as ''posturing'' and ''completely unfounded''.

''Qantas has not made a pilot redundant in almost 40 years and there is no threat to the job security of our pilots,'' the airline said, although a spokesman said this assurance could not be attributed to chief executive Alan Joyce.

Qantas rejected claims the union was seeking a 2.5 per cent pay rise a year, arguing the real cost - including the wage claim, classifications and travel claims - would amount to 26 per cent over three years, and if conceded, risked job security of thousands of employees in the airline group.

If there is any consensus, it is that both parties are worried about how Qantas's international business is performing.

''If we continue on our current path, there will be a real question mark over the viability of Qantas international,'' Mr Joyce said last week.

A Qantas spokesman was blunter yesterday, a week ahead of the release of half-year financial results: ''The international business is not sustainable in its current form and change is imperative for it to survive.''

Mr Jackson said Qantas's problem was that it was a network carrier without much of a network - flying into only two destinations in Europe (London and Frankfurt), for example, while competitors such as Singapore Airlines and Middle East-based airlines had scores of destinations.

''We are witnessing the demise of an icon through mismanagement,'' Mr Jackson said, warning Qantas could go the way of Ansett. Many [Qantas managers] were centrally involved in the destruction of Ansett … [and] … the same industrial consultants are advising them.

''If Qantas disappears they will have wiped out all of the founding entities in Australian aviation,'' Mr Jackson said.

Pilots will meet in Sydney today (Friday) and in Melbourne on Monday.