Bad news if you're flying with this airline this weekend
Tigerair pilots are set to take industrial action this weekend meaning thousands of travellers could be facing significant delays and disruptions.
The Australian Federation of Air Pilots and fellow union VIPA, which together represent more than 80 per cent of Tigerair pilots, said their members would take disruptive action from the morning of Friday May 4 through to midnight Sunday unless there is a breakthrough in bargaining.
Union members will refuse to fly aircrafts that have "allowable defects" – minor faults that do not need immediate repair – and will not fly any hours outside of their published roster.
Tigerair assured customers it has plans to minimise disruption, including moving passengers onto its parent airline Virgin Australia's services.
A spokeswoman for Tigerair said passengers should arrive for their flights as normal unless notified otherwise
AFPA executive director Simon Lutton said the union did not take industrial action lightly but after 12 months of negotiations they had reached an stalemate.
“Tigerair pilots fly the same aircraft as their counterparts at Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas, however this is not reflected in their employment conditions," Mr Lutton said.
"The current agreement is well below industry standards, both in terms of pay and work-life balance. Tigerair pilots are simply looking for a fair deal.”
Mr Lutton said it was the first time that pilots within the Virgin Group had ever given notice to take protected industrial action.