Cancelled flights and long queues are set to frustrate passengers heading to into Christmas season as aviation firefighters go on strike over safety concerns.
Firefighters will walk off the job between 6am and 10am on December 9, at 27 airports where aviation rescue firefighting services are stationed.
Domestic and international flights will be disrupted as the country heads into the peak holiday period, with all travel restrictions relaxed in recent months.
United Firefighters Union Aviation Branch Secretary Wes Garrett said the stop work action comes after 100 staff were cut last year from government-owned Airservices Australia, the body responsible for keeping safe 11 per cent of the world’s airspace.
He said airports will effectively shut down for these hours but noted some airlines could still operate.
“Air travellers don’t have the protection they need because Airservices cut 100 aviation firefighters from Australia’s airports to cut costs in October 2021,” Mr Garrett said on Tuesday.
Every month more than 600 flights operate from Australia’s airports without the aviation firefighting protection required under international aviation safety regulation, he said.
“Protecting the safety of Australia’s air travellers is the number one priority of every aviation firefighter. That’s why we are undertaking such significant industrial action.”
He estimated that on average 2500 passengers in Australia are not properly covered under international aviation standards.
“We understand that this will be extremely disruptive for Australia’s air travellers and aviation firefighters sincerely apologise for the inconvenience,” he said.
“We are sympathetic… but public safety is paramount for us. We will stand up for aviation safety in this country,” Mr Garrett told reporters.
He noted this was the first time the aviation branch of the union had undertaken a work stoppage in its history.
Mr Garrett called on the federal government to help resolve the staffing shortage of 100 employees demanding that a clause in their contracts be included to ensure there is enough staff.
AAP has sought comment from Airservices Australia.
Trevor Rodgers, a recently retired aviation fire commander with 38 years of experience under his belt, said that any shortage of aviation firefighters at an incident could have catastrophic consequences for passengers of a burning aircraft.
“Aviation firefighters have just three minutes to reach a burning aircraft and make an intervention to save the passengers,” he said.
After the three-minute window, a fire can quickly spread through the cabin and the chances of people surviving an internal fire are diminished.
“If we do not have the aviation firefighters and the appliances available at the time of the incident, large numbers of people will die. It’s just that simple”.
© AAP 2022
