Australian national carrier Qantas Airways (ASX: QAN) has been forced to cancel 31 flights affecting around 2500 passengers and delay another 46 flights during tomorrow's morning-peak, as a result of union-led industrial action from licensed engineers.

The Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Union has instructed around 1600 members to walk off the job between 8am-9am tomorrow as part of industrial action for a new agreement on pay and conditions.

Qantas Group Executive Operations, Lyell Strambi, said the work stoppages at airports and maintenance facilities around Australia would mainly impact Qantas domestic services with only a small number of delays to international services. The strike will not affect Jetstar or QantasLink.

"Our priority is to the Australian travelling public but even with contingency plans the union will cause disruptions to our passengers. It's clear that the union leadership has constructed this industrial action to have the maximum impact on passengers," Mr Strambi said.

"We are doing everything we possibly can to get passengers to their destinations including moving passengers on to later flights and upgrading services to larger, widebody aircraft."

Qantas is contacting customers directly to discuss suitable alternatives and passengers can visit qantas.com prior to travelling to get the latest information.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) last night officially drew a line in the sand after Qantas management made clear once again that they are unwilling to negotiate seriously on core ‘job security’ provisions.

After a frustrating day of negotiations, AIPA sent a letter to Qantas management, indicating that if there are not genuine attempts to reach agreement on core issues by close of business on Thursday, 19 May, then the first steps towards protected industrial action will be formally taken.

AIPA President Barry Jackson said pilots had lost faith that Qantas management would come to the table on the core sticking point.

“Qantas management has had our claims since October last year,” he said.

“Since that time they have not given a single indication that they are willing to take our proposed job security provisions seriously.
Mr Strambi said that Qantas could not agree with the union's unreasonable and excessive demands.

"Qantas has entered into discussions with the union in good faith and we have exhausted all avenues possible however we have been unable to make any real progress with the union," he said.