Australian airline passengers face strike disruption

Qantas passengers face prolonged disruption to flights after the airline's 1600 licensed aircraft engineers chose to begin nationwide strike action on Friday.

The hour-long stoppage marks the start of multi-Union industrial action in the coming months that is likely to frustrate the travel plans of thousands of passengers.

The long-haul pilots' Union is also understood to be on the verge of applying for a secret ballot of its members to approve legally protected industrial action.

The engineers will walk off the job at all Australian airports on Friday between 8am and 9am after talks between Qantas and the Union about wage rises and job security failed to resolve their differences.

Source: SMH.com.au