Qantas has resumed flights after an independent tribunal ordered
an end to the industrial action.
Fair Work Australia ordered an end to industrial action and told
Qantas to abandon plans to lock-out workers ahead of fresh talks
aimed at resolving their dispute.
The dispute had seen Qantas grounding all flights on Saturday
leaving passengers stranded around the world.
The airline said it hoped to restore its service to normal within
24 to 48 hours.
Qantas and the unions - who have been in a long running dispute
since Qantas announced plans to outsource some of its operations -
have 21 days to work out an agreement.
If they fail, they will be forced into mandatory arbitration and
the industrial umpire will resolve the dispute.
Neither side is permitted to take any industrial action in the
meantime.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said he had no option but to ground all
Qantas planes. "It was the only way we could bring it to a head,"
he insisted.
British Airways said it had tried to help any of its customers who
had booked through BA but due to the oneworld alliance found
themselves on a cancelled Qantas flight.
A spokeswoman said: "Our flights haven't been affected but we do
have customers who have booked through ba.com who have been.
"We have been trying to help them where we can and put them back
on alternative flights."
Last week, Qantas claimed that the industrial dispute was costing
it A$15m per week due to flight cancellations and delays.
Qantas shares defied predictions by lifting 6 per cent in early
Monday trading.
Joyce said he was confident the airline would recover its 65 per
cent market share of Australian aviation.
