http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45087583/ns/business-world_business
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Qantas Airways grounds global fleet due to strikes
'We're all set for the flight and settled in and the next thing ... We're getting back off'
msnbc.com news services
updated 10/29/2011 11:49:58 AM ET
SYDNEY — Australia's Qantas Airways grounded its global fleet on Saturday over a bitter labor dispute in an unprecedented move, with the government asking a tribunal to stop the conflict which it worries is putting both the airline and the economy at risk.
Tens of thousands of passengers, including 17 world leaders, were affected by the abrupt decision, which clearly took the government by surprise.
When the grounding was announced, 36 international and 28 domestic Australian flights were in the air, said a Qantas spokeswoman, who declined to be named citing company policy. At least one taxiing flight stopped on the runway, a flier said.
Qantas said 108 airplanes were grounded. The spokeswoman could not confirm an Australian Broadcasting Corp. television report that 13,305 passengers were booked to fly Qantas international flights within 24 hours of the grounding.
It came as an embarrassment for Prime Minister Julia Gillard who was hosting a Commonwealth leaders summit in the remote city of Perth, 17 of them booked to fly out on Sunday with Qantas.
'I'm stunned'
British tourist Chris Crulley, 25, said the pilot on his Qantas flight informed passengers while taxiing down a Sydney runway that he had to return to the terminal "to take an important phone call." The flight was then grounded.
"We're all set for the flight and settled in and the next thing — I'm stunned. We're getting back off the plane," the firefighter told The Associated Press from Sydney Airport by phone.
Unions, from pilots to caterers, have taken strike action since September over pay and opposing Qantas plans to cut its soaring costs, as it looks at setting up two new airlines in Asia and cutting back financially draining long-haul flights.
It plans to cut 1,000 jobs and order $9 billion of new Airbus aircraft as part of a makeover to salvage the loss making international business.
"They are trashing our strategy and our brand. They are deliberately destabilizing the company. Customers are now fleeing from us," Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camillo,_Western_Australia
Wikipedia
Camillo, Western Australia
Camillo is a southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Armadale and it was part of Kelmscott until 1978. Until mid-2008, it was named Westfield.
