Australia’s flag carrier Qantas Airways grounded its entire fleet today in an unprecedented move. Qantas stoped all domestic and international flights until further notice. The airline said, this is in response to “the damaging industrial action by three unions – the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA), the Australian International Pilots Association (AIPA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU)”.
Qantas said that all employees who will be covered by the industrial agreements currently being negotiated with these unions have been locked out. The lock-out will continue until the unions “drop the extreme demands that have made it impossible for agreements to be reached”.
Pilots, licenced engineers and baggage, ground and catering staff are essential to Qantas operations and the lock-out will therefore make it necessary for all Qantas aircraft to be grounded. Aircraft currently in the air will complete the sectors they are operating. However, there will be no further Qantas domestic departures or international departures anywhere in the world. This will have an estimated financial impact on Qantas of $20 million per day. Approximately 70,000 passengers have been affected and more than 600 flights cancelled.
QantasLink, Jetstar, Jetconnect services, Qantas freight services (Express Freighters Australia and Atlas) and codeshare flights will continue to operate as normal.
Qantas is providing a full refund for any flights cancelled due to the industrial action. Customers can also rebook their flights for a later date. Customers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they are travelling on a QantasLink , Jetstar or Jet Connect flight and are urged to reconsider any non-urgent travel and defer their travel plans wherever possible. Qantas also will arrange accommodation, meals and transfers for international and domestic passengers.