Yesterday’s decision by Fair Work Australia to endorse a 3 per cent a year pay rise over 3 years for QANTAS licensed aircraft maintenance engineers “is a good deal for our industry” says Tourism Industry Council NSW General Manager Andrew Jefferies.

“This deal provides certainty for the Australian travelling public, a decent pay rise for the engineers and offers a flexible arrangement for our national carrier to get its loss making International operations back into the black”, Mr. Jefferies said.

“I think it’s fair to say that given the economic and structural challenges that our industry is currently facing, many workers within the tourism industry would be very happy to receive a guaranteed pay rise such as this one. With the long term economic outlook uncertain and the strength of the Australian Dollar continuing to affect inbound and domestic tourism, an average $50 a week pay rise is at the upper end of outcomes for tourism industry employees”, he added.

QANTAS CEO Alan Joyce reiterated that the agreement with the ALAEA provided certainty for its customers and the industry as it prohibits any further industrial action before 2015. The decision to endorse the agreement yesterday followed the disastrous grounding of the airline last year with some forecasts expecting a hit of up to $194 million in costs.