Jetstar cancels more than 100 flights as it braces for strikes

Jetstar has cancelled 108 flights between Friday and Sunday in preparation for pilots and ground staff to walk off the job. About 5% of passengers due to fly on the weekend will not be able to travel on the day of their booking because of the pilot strike, while most passengers flying on Friday will be put onto other flights, the airline said. The budget airline says 80% of flights will operate as scheduled on the weekend, with other services to be rescheduled, consolidated, operated with larger aircraft, and have passengers moved onto Qantas flights. Australian Federation of Air Pilots members, who make up around 80 per cent of Jetstar's mainline pilots, will walk off the job for four hours on Saturday and Sunday amid stalled wage negotiations.<br/>Jetstar boss Gareth Evans said: "We know the union's actions are creating uncertainty for travellers. "We remain committed to reaching a new agreement to support the great work our people do every day, but not at any cost." On top of the dispute with pilots, 250 Jetstar baggage handlers and ground crew will hold two two-hour stop-work meetings at various times on Friday at Sydney, Melbourne, Avalon, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide airports, prompting 18 flight cancellations.<br/>