Unions are hoping forced redundancies at the Avalon Qantas heavy maintenance base will be minimal.

The airline announced last month over 100 jobs will be going at the local airport, and the Australian Workers Union says even with some contractors leaving 96 jobs will still have to be cut.

The union says 89 workers are now looking at taking voluntary redundancies.

But there are fears the entire Qantas operation at Avalon will eventually close once the airline’s current maintenance contracts wind up.