Strike-hit Jetstar to cut January capacity
Budget airline Jetstar will ground 10% of its flights in January as it anticipates more industrial action after the Christmas holidays.
It is effectively saying it won’t compromise with unions in two labour disputes and is taking the measures to ‘avoid disrupting customers at short notice.’
"There’s no doubt that industrial action is expensive and frustrating, but we have to hold the line on costs or it threatens the long term sustainability of our business," Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said.
"We apologise to the customers whose plans have been caught up in what the unions are doing."
The airline cancelled about 100 flights last weekend.
Jetstar also says it may sell off three 787-8 aircraft.
The pilots union has pledged not to walk out during the busy holiday period from December 20 to January 3 but could resume industrial action after then.
"Industrial action doesn’t change the fact the wage claims being made by the TWU and AFAP are unsustainable," Evans said.
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