Qantas passengers warned to expect extended disruptions as Network Aviation pilots strike

Brooke Turner was left thousands of dollars out of pocket after having to change her travel arrangements. (ABC Pilbara: Charlie Mills)

Passengers flying in regional Western Australia have been warned to expect days of disruption as regional pilots ramp up their industrial action.

Pilots for Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation have begun a six-day strike after enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations broke down.

The action comes after one-day strikes last week and in October last year.

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots claims Network is short-changing pilots by offering them inferior conditions to those across the Qantas domestic network.

But the airline says its offers were “generous” and could not be feasibly increased.

Network will use three re-routed Qantas Boeing 737s and a number of charter aircraft in a bid to keep disruption to a minimum.

The airlines said 25 Wednesday flights had been cancelled, and another 25 on Thursday.

Work trip in chaos

Pilbara woman Brooke Turner said she was due to travel to Singapore on Thursday for work.

She said she was only informed of the strike on Tuesday night, when Qantas re-booked her onto a later flight, meaning she would miss her connection from Perth to Singapore.

“So I looked at Virgin being the only other airline out of Karratha and managed to get a flight out on that this afternoon,” Ms Turner said.

But her return flight from Singapore on Monday is still a huge concern.

“I really want to get home, being a mum to three little kids, extra nights away from the children are really hard,” she said.

“So again, I’m going to be away for an extra night now having to stay the night in Perth and accommodation and things associated with that.”

Miners change plans

With Network flying the bulk of WA’s large FIFO workforce, a significant number of mine workers will also be impacted.

Rio Tinto said it had been forced to make alternate arrangements for 3,000 staff.

“This is having a significant impact on the people who work for us,” Rio spokesman Richard Cohen said.

“Whether that means flying on a different day, going to a different airport or not flying at all — that’s the disruption.”

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots said it regretted the impact on passengers, but its members were left with little choice.

‘No alternative’: Union

Industrial Officer Chris Aikens said the impact on travellers would be substantial.

“Last week when we had the day of action there was an indication of a high level of cancellation of flights,” he said.

He said thousands of passengers were affected.

“Not that we want to impact the passengers, but we’ve got no real other alternative now,” he said.

Network Aviation chief operating officer Trevor Worgan said the action taken by the pilots was regrettable.

“There will be more cancellations that will roll through as we work through re-accommodating as many passengers as possible over the weekend,” Mr Worgan said.

“The strike action over the next few days is clearly aimed at the West Australian economy by targeting flying to and from mine sites across the state.

“We are pulling out all the stops to help get most customers to their destination on the same day.”

Mr Worgan said additional contingency plans had been put in place to respond to longer-term industrial action.