Qantas says it will stop using dangerous firefighting foam after a spill in the Brisbane River.

In April this year, a Qantas hangar at Brisbane Airport spilled 22,000 litres of firefighting foam containing the chemical PFAS, some of which leaked into the Brisbane River, meaning fish or shellfish caught in the area became unsafe to eat.

Qantas has provided compensation to commercial fishing operators affected by the spill, and says it will continue monitoring the water content.

The company says the airline will now phase out the foam nationwide.

“Critically, we will be installing aviation accredited PFAS-free foam in all Qantas Group sites over the next 12 months, the first major Australian airline to do so,” a Qantas spokesperson said.

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles says it is a good idea that should be greatly expanded.

“It's great that Qantas has agreed to swap to firefighting foams that don't contain PFAS but they're just one airline,” he said.

“The Federal Government needs to take the ban across the board.”

The toxic firefighting foam has now been banned by the Queensland Government, firefighters and Qantas, but not the Federal Government.