The 21-day period for Qantas management and unions to agree on new contracts lapsed on Monday with no negotiation extension made by the parties, so the dispute will now have to be settled by the Fair Works Australia (FWA).

Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) Vice President Richard Woodward accused the airline of not negotiating in good faith and not willing to compromise.

"We are very disappointed. We started in August last year with an intention of getting a deal done. But all along Qantas has been less than exemplary in these negotiations. They have taken a very hard-headed attitude to negotiations and have not compromised," Woodward said, according to Sydney Morning Herald.

The point of contention between AIPA and Qantas was the terms for efficiency gains of up to 20 per cent sought by the company, such as pilot rostering.

Separate talks with the Transport Workers Union (TWU), representing ground crew such as baggage handlers, also ended due to disagreements on the issue of job-security and the number of contractors Qantas wants to use, disclosed TWU general counsel Michael Burns.

Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers' Association (ALAEA) secretary Steve Purvinas said the union wants FWA to resolve the two sides' few remaining disagreements because it would be easier for them.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said it was now time for FWA to resolve the labor disputes as the decision of the arbitrator is final and valid for four years. During this period, the parties cannot stage an industrial action bringing certainty to customers, employees and shareholders, he said.

The 21-day negotiation was required by the FWA to end Qantas' two-day lockout and grounding of its fleet from Oct. 29 to 30 that stranded tens of thousands of passengers around the world.