Three flights on Qantas’ Cairns-Brisbane route were delayed by up to half an hour by industrial action yesterday, according to the airline’s website.

Twenty eight flights were expected to be cancelled and another 27 delayed when Qantas announced the Transport Workers Union had advised Qantas ground staff and baggage handlers to down tools for negotiations on pay conditions and job security.

Qantas states the TWU have withdrawn the work bans they had imposed on Qantas staff intended for the next 48 hours, which had promised to throw travel plans of thousands of people into chaos nation-wide.

“We hope this signals their desire to return to the negotiating table,” the website states.


Previously reported
Qantas strike not affecting Cairns
Tuesday 20 September

Cairns Domestic Airport is “operating as normal” this morning, despite 28 Qantas flights being cancelled in southern capital cities.

A Cairns Airport Qantas spokesman said no flights into Cairns have been affected to 9am this morning, and did not anticipate any further problems later today.

Cairns Airport’s Communications Manager, Helen Laird, also confirmed that the airport had not received notice from Qantas that any cancellations were set to affect the Far North Queensland domestic operations, but confirmed any disruptions would be handled by Cairns Airport’s Qantas staff.

The Transport Workers Union and Qantas baggage handlers and ground staff are participating in industrial action as part of ongoing dispute over pay and job security.