Alan Joyce Takes Responsibility for Qantas Plane Grounding Decision

Embattled Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce took responsibility for the grounding of the air carrier's planes and crew on Saturday and Sunday which stranded almost 100,000 passengers.

He told a Senate inquiry on Friday that while the Qantas board endorsed grounding the jets because of the worsening labor problem with three unions, the final decision was on his hands.

"I've got complete operational decision for commercial operational reasons," ABC News quoted Mr Joyce.

"I decided to have a board meeting because of the brand implications, the significant implications around this, to make sure the board was comfortable with the decision," he explained.

Mr Joyce insisted he discussed the possible grounding of the aircraft with ministers, shadow ministers and state officials, but admitted he excluded the topic of employee lockouts.

He explained the continuous selling of plane tickets for three-and-a-half hours despite the grounding to an oversight.

Mr Joyce's explanation apparently failed to convince the Senate. Senator Doug Cameron warned the Qantas chief executive to expect a tough time in Parliamentary grilling.

"When you behave in such a reprehensible manner toward the traveling public, when you take action without advising the government, when you threaten the whole economy, well you're entitled to get a grilling," Mr Cameron said.

Mr Joyce also defended Qantas's plan to open another budget service with regional hub in Asia.

"If you want to survive and succeed we must be free to pursue global opportunities," Mr Joyce said.

The planned new hub to be located either in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, and reports of plan to outsource some of the tasks performed by union members, are some of the reasons why three of the Qantas unions are restive. That is on top of the low salary increase offered by the company, while executives like Mr Joyce enjoy seven-digit pay packages.

Despite the plans for another regional hub, Mr Joyce insisted that Qantas will remain based in Australia.

"The vast majority of our operations are here and always will stay here," he said.