Jetstar passengers travelling across Australia on Friday are being warned to prepare for possible airport delays as customer service workers take industrial action during the NRL Grand Final long weekend.
Workers represented by the Australian Services Union are taking action at major airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns on October 2.
The dispute centres on pay and working conditions after negotiations between the union and Jetstar failed to produce an agreement.
News.com.au reports that the action includes two one hour work stoppages as well as bans on several duties normally performed by airport employees.
News.com.au
What Jetstar workers are refusing to do
The industrial action is designed to disrupt some airport services without necessarily stopping flights.
Workers are refusing to collect certain excess baggage fees and charges associated with seat changes.
Other nonessential duties are also affected.
The union says employees have turned to industrial action after negotiations over a new workplace agreement stalled.
The Australian Services Union argues that Jetstar's proposed wage increases do not adequately reflect higher living costs or the financial performance of the wider Qantas Group.
Jetstar disputes that characterization and says its offer includes backpay, improved benefits and wage increases that would reach 3 percent by April 2027.
Which airports are affected?
Industrial action is taking place across several of Australia's busiest airports.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns are among the locations affected by Friday's action.
Further action is also expected across the long weekend, with reports indicating workers at Gold Coast Airport are involved in the broader campaign.
Redland City Bulletin +1
The timing is particularly important because thousands of Australians are travelling for the NRL Grand Final weekend and the public holiday period in parts of the country.
Heavy passenger volumes can make even relatively small disruptions at check in counters and baggage facilities more noticeable.
Will Jetstar flights be cancelled?
Jetstar says it has contingency plans in place and does not expect the industrial action to disrupt its scheduled flights.
The airline has indicated that passengers should still arrive at airports according to their normal travel plans.
That means travellers should not assume their flight has been cancelled simply because workers are taking industrial action.
Passengers should nevertheless check their flight status before leaving for the airport because operational conditions can change during busy travel periods.
Why are Jetstar workers striking?
Pay is at the centre of the dispute.
The Australian Services Union says workers are seeking a better wage increase after experiencing significant cost of living pressures.
The union has also pointed to strong financial results across the Qantas Group while arguing that frontline airport workers should receive improved compensation.
Jetstar says its proposal provides meaningful improvements for employees and has defended the overall package being offered.
Neither side has announced a final agreement.
Airport disruption comes at a sensitive time
The industrial action arrives during a difficult period for Australia's aviation network.
Sydney Airport has already faced operational concerns this year, including several runway incidents being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
In August, ABC News reported that more than 150 flights were delayed at Sydney Airport during a separate disruption caused by air traffic control roster constraints.
ABC News
The ATSB has also investigated multiple runway incidents at Sydney Airport during 2026. In one August case, a Jetstar Airbus A320 and Qatar Airways Boeing 777 narrowly avoided a collision on the ground.
ABC News +1
Those incidents are separate from the current Jetstar industrial dispute, but they have increased scrutiny of operations at Australia's busiest airport.
What passengers should do today
Travellers booked on Jetstar flights should check their flight status directly with the airline before travelling to the airport.
Allowing additional time for check in and baggage processing may also be sensible, particularly at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane during peak periods.
Passengers should keep notifications from Jetstar enabled because any schedule changes would normally be communicated through the airline's app, website, email or text alerts.
For now, Jetstar says flights should continue operating despite the strike.
The bigger question is whether negotiations with workers can produce an agreement before further industrial action creates additional pressure during Australia's busy spring travel period.
