Qantas flights remain grounded for a second day after management of the Australian carrier took the drastic measure of grounding all international and domestic flights following long running industrial disputes.
The airline announced that as part of the move it will lockout engineers, pilots and other employees from Monday night.
This step being taken under the provisions of the Fair Work Act, follows a long-running standoff between Qantas and three unions: the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA).
Chief Executive Alan Joyce said of the move that “every other option has been exhausted”.
Over 68,000 passengers have been stranded with 447 flights cancelled since flights were suspended, according to Qantas.