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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Qantas dispute grounds UK flights | Qantas dispute grounds UK flights |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Australian airline Qantas has cancelled flights to and from London in response to industrial action. | Australian airline Qantas has cancelled flights to and from London in response to industrial action. |
| The airline's action means three flights due to leave Heathrow on Saturday will not take off, stranding more than 1,000 passengers. | The airline's action means three flights due to leave Heathrow on Saturday will not take off, stranding more than 1,000 passengers. |
| A statement by Qantas said all those involved in the strike would be locked out from Monday evening and flights grounded from 0600 GMT on Saturday. | A statement by Qantas said all those involved in the strike would be locked out from Monday evening and flights grounded from 0600 GMT on Saturday. |
| Aircraft currently in the air will complete their flights. | Aircraft currently in the air will complete their flights. |
| BBC News correspondent Helena Lee said that attempts were being made to get the stranded Quantas travellers onto alternative flights but it was not clear if this would be possible. | |
| The company's website advises passengers not to travel to airports and that refunds will be available for all cancelled flights. | The company's website advises passengers not to travel to airports and that refunds will be available for all cancelled flights. |
| British passengers affected | British passengers affected |
| The Independent newspaper's travel editor, Simon Calder, said a number of British passengers could be affected - even some who do not realise they are booked with Qantas. | The Independent newspaper's travel editor, Simon Calder, said a number of British passengers could be affected - even some who do not realise they are booked with Qantas. |
| "There's actually going to be people who thought they'd booked a British Airways flight who are hit by this, because BA have what's called a code share arrangement - that means you book a flight to Sydney, it's a got a BA flight number, but it may well be operated by Qantas. So anyone who's going to Sydney should be checking that now." | "There's actually going to be people who thought they'd booked a British Airways flight who are hit by this, because BA have what's called a code share arrangement - that means you book a flight to Sydney, it's a got a BA flight number, but it may well be operated by Qantas. So anyone who's going to Sydney should be checking that now." |
| The unions and management are involved in a long-running dispute over restructuring and outsourcing. | The unions and management are involved in a long-running dispute over restructuring and outsourcing. |
| The company's chief executive, Alan Joyce, called his own decision "unbelievable" while the head of the Australian pilots association, Barry Jackson, said: "It's unprecedented and really it has hijacked the nation. It really has put everyone on notice and...it's forcing the government's hand on this." | The company's chief executive, Alan Joyce, called his own decision "unbelievable" while the head of the Australian pilots association, Barry Jackson, said: "It's unprecedented and really it has hijacked the nation. It really has put everyone on notice and...it's forcing the government's hand on this." |
| The airline has accused trade unions of "destabilising the company" and said Qantas staff would stop being paid on Monday. | The airline has accused trade unions of "destabilising the company" and said Qantas staff would stop being paid on Monday. |
| The British Airline Pilots' Association said the move was a "major escalation" and "no way to deal with industrial relations and certainly will be a major inconvenience for passengers". | |
| "Employees have been naturally concerned about their futures under the airline's restructuring plans and have sought reassurances as well as making concessions." | |
| Qantas was privatised in the 1990s but the Australian minister for transport, Anthony Albanese, said the government would take action to intervene in the dispute. | Qantas was privatised in the 1990s but the Australian minister for transport, Anthony Albanese, said the government would take action to intervene in the dispute. |
| He said: "We are very concerned about Qantas' actions, of which we were notified only mid-afternoon, with no advance notice from Qantas at any stage. | He said: "We are very concerned about Qantas' actions, of which we were notified only mid-afternoon, with no advance notice from Qantas at any stage. |
| "The government is making an urgent application to Fair Work Australia to terminate all industrial action at Qantas. This will be aimed at both actions by unions and by Qantas management." | "The government is making an urgent application to Fair Work Australia to terminate all industrial action at Qantas. This will be aimed at both actions by unions and by Qantas management." |