Despite Fair Work Australia's (FWA) intervention on Qantas' labor row which will result in resumption of flights by 12 noon of Monday, Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce's unilateral action did not escape criticism of several groups.

Among the groups that have spoken against Mr Joyce's grounding of Qantas crew and fleet were hotel operators, tourism groups and trade unions.

Australian Hotels Association of Western Australia Chief Executive Officer Bradley Woods said that Mr Joyce should have delayed the grounding by two or three days and should have given passengers advance notice.

"The Qantas board deliberately chose to take this action at a time when Australia was most vulnerable in the context of CHOGM being in Perth, the Melbourne Cup, a range of major sporting events throughout Australia," Mr Woods told ABC News.

"I believe it's very disappointing that the Qantas board has made this decision at a time when Australia is in the international spotlight," he added.

He warned that unless Qantas's labor row is resolved soon jobs in the hospitality industry would be placed at risk and there would be long-term damaged to Australia's reputation at a time when many businesses could not afford further damage.

The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) supported the hotel operators' call. TTF Chief Executive John Lee said the worsening of Qantas' labor dispute is a signal for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to directly intervene through FWA and to ensure arbitration starts as soon as possible.

Mr Lee pointed out that Australia's tourism industry has taken several hits in 2011 including from natural disasters, the strong currency and now the labor dispute in Qantas which has caused a change in residents' travel plans.

"While some people have deferred their travel plans, others have decided its too difficult, and we are already seeing a drop off in forward bookings, which will not only get worse," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mr Lee.

He blamed the unions for its unwillingness to accept the globally competitive nature of the tourism and aviation sectors.

"The 500,000 people directly employed in Australia's $94 billion tourism industry do not deserve to have their livelihoods threatened by this, which could be the straw that breaks the camel's back," Mr Lee added.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Jeff Lawrence said Mr Joyce should justify before the FWA the extreme and irresponsible action the Qantas board made in grounding its crew and planes on Saturday which disrupted the travel plan of thousands of passengers.

"Airline passengers and businesses that rely on Qantas have the right today to feel very, very angry at what Alan Joyce and his board and managed has done by its single-handed decision to ground the airline," Mr Lawrence said in a statement.

"He owes the Australian public an explanation for this pre-meditated and unwarranted escalation, and should do so at Fair Work Australia today," Mr Lawrence said.