Qantas pilots have reiterated that their dispute with current Qantas (ASX: QAN) management has nothing to do with pay and conditions.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) said this morning that its battle with the Flying Kangaroo has nothing to do with pay and conditions and everything to do with keeping Qantas pilots on the flight deck.

This comment comes after Qantas CEO Alan Joyce claimed AIPAʼs pay demands amount to $317 million over three years.

AIPA said the actual figure stands at $90 million over three years, representing a 2.5 per cent pay increase each year.

AIPA President Barry Jackson said it was sadly predictable that Mr Joyce would attempt to avoid discussion of the real issue by inventing mistruths about pilotsʼ pay claim.

“This dispute is not about pay and conditions,” Captain Jackson said.

“It is about fighting Mr Joyceʼs offshoring agenda and keeping Qantas pilots operating Qantas flights.

Qantas pilots have not taken industrial action since 1966.

Captain Jackson said this only suggests that the group is “slow to anger”.

“The reason AIPA is now taking an historic ballot of members is because the entire future of Qantas as an Australian icon is at stake,” he said.

AIPA said it has made it clear from the start that pilots are willing to compromise and negotiate on pay and conditions in order to keep Qantas pilots in the cockpit of Qantas flights.

“Despite Mr Joyceʼs recent bomb-throwing, we remain 100 per cent committed to that position,” said Captain Jackson.

“Mr Joyce wants to move Qantas operations to Southeast Asia. He wants pilots and crew employed on Asian conditions and working to Asian standards.

“Qantas pilots, on the other hand, want to stay here and continue delivering our established culture of safety and excellence to Qantas passengers.

“Itʼs sadly little wonder that Mr Joyce wants to avoid talking about the core issue and would prefer to pretend this is a fight over pay and conditions,” he said.