SYDNEY, Aug 6 - Qantas and an Australian pilots' union said on Thursday they have arrived at a provisional wage agreement after long-haul pilots voted this week to authorise industrial action, including 24-hour stoppages and delayed sign-ons.
The proposed deal would apply to about 1,700 long-haul pilots who operate Qantas' Airbus A380 and A330 jets and Boeing 787 aircraft, primarily on international services. Short-haul pilots remain covered by a separate agreement.
The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) said it had been encouraged by the progress of negotiations held at the Fair Work Commission, Australia's industrial umpire. "A broad agreement has been reached (with Qantas). We are hopeful this agreement can be formalised in the coming days," AIPA President Andrew Marshall said by email.
Qantas described the outcome as an "in principle agreement" that it said would deliver significant pay increases, improvements to rostering and additional career progression opportunities while balancing the needs of its business.
The provisional settlement follows a protected action ballot that was approved by a majority of the carrier's long-haul pilots after talks over pay and working conditions failed to produce an agreement. The ballot gave employees the option to vote in favour of strikes or other protected industrial action.
Separately, the airline faces the prospect of further industrial ballots: a Qantas ground workers' union said on Thursday that around 650 ground staff would soon vote on whether to take industrial action.
Under Australia’s industrial relations framework, protected industrial action such as strikes or work stoppages requires the Fair Work Commission to approve a ballot, which is then put to union members for a vote. Employers must be given advance notice of any industrial action.
Sector and market context
The developments affect the airline and broader aviation sectors through potential disruption to international operations and labour cost outcomes. A formalised agreement for long-haul pilots would reduce immediate industrial risk for Qantas' international network, while the pending ground workers' ballot maintains a separate source of operational uncertainty.
Further details on formalisation timing and any subsequent ballots were not provided in the statements cited.