Qantas grounds planes over union dispute

The Australian airline Qantas has grounded all its aircraft because of a long-running dispute with trade unions.

Qantas said there would be no more domestic or international departures anywhere in the world and staff would be locked out until the unions agreed a deal with management on pay, conditions and jobs being moved overseas.

The airline's chief executive, Alan Joyce, said the decision to ground the fleet was a difficult one and would cost Qantas $20million a day.