A large majority of Qantas’s 1700 long‑haul pilots has now backed industrial action, opening the door to serious disruption on international routes. Support for each of the 11 possible protected actions ranges between 76 and 88%, signalling rare unity across the long‑haul pilot group.
That level of backing gives their union significant leverage as it pushes for a last‑minute deal with the airline.
The protected action ballot, which closed at 5pm on Monday, marks a turning point after two years of negotiations that have failed to produce a widely supported agreement. Qantas’s long‑haul pilots had already shown their dissatisfaction in April, when roughly two thirds of the international cohort voted down the company’s latest offer.
That proposal included a two‑year wage freeze, part of a broader pay restraint imposed on all work groups after the Covid‑19 pandemic. Long‑haul pilots argue that international flying has recovered strongly, so the freeze now feels out of step with the airline’s rebound.
Approved options for industrial action range from relatively short disruptions to more severe stoppages, giving the pilots a flexible toolkit. The menu includes full work stoppages of up to 24 hours, shorter one and four hour strikes and targeted delays to signing on for duty at the start of shifts.
By varying both the duration and timing, pilots can increase pressure on Qantas’s international schedule without immediately resorting to an all‑out shutdown. Industrial experts note that this tiered approach is designed to keep negotiations moving while demonstrating the seriousness of the dispute.
