Flicking the switch

How Qantas managed to ground itself then get back in the air again

“You can’t just turn an airline on and off,” Qantas spokesperson Olivia Wirth had told reporters in early October, yet only a few weeks later the airline did just that, causing disruptions for tens of thousands of passengers around the world.

Following its escalating battle with the three key unions, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced at 5pm AEDST on Saturday October 29 that the airline would lock out its pilots, ground crew and engineers from 8pm (AEDST) Monday October 31. More stunning than that was the announcement by Joyce that the airline would immediately ground its flights worldwide until further notice.

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