12 May 2011

Qantas pilots threaten strike over Wallabies plane

8:15 am on 12 May 2011

Qantas pilots in Australia are threatening to strike because the airline's plane promoting the Wallabies rugby team is a New Zealand aircraft with a New Zealand crew.

The ABC reports that Qantas has confirmed the plane, which is painted in the green and gold colours of the Wallabies, is registered in Auckland, flown by New Zealand pilots and has a trans-Tasman cabin crew.

Australian pilots say it is evidence that Qantas plans to outsource its operations overseas.

They say almost all trans-Tasman Qantas flights are now crewed by New Zealanders who work for lower wages.