Qantas forced to dump meals

Press, 30 January 1986, Page 6

Qantas forced to dump meals

From LES BLOXHAM in Sydney Meals for 350 passengers on a Qantas flight from Christchurch to Sydney had to be dumped last evening because of Air New Zealand’s catering employees’ strike. Qantas had double catered on its Sydney-Christchurch-Sydney service yesterday to have enough meals for passengers in both directions.

The New Zealand union, however, successfully sought support in Sydney where unionists threatened to close the Qantas catering kitchen at Mascot airport if the food was served on the return sector.

The Qantas kitchen, one of the biggest in the world, caters for 30 airlines and employs 800.

The Australian union informed Qantas in Sydney of their decision and the airline was left with no choice but to advise the crew to leave the meals untouched.

Cabin crew apologised for the lack of food and explained to passengers that it could not be served because of the Air New Zealand dispute. Passengers on the flight, QF46, were given sAustls cash in compensation as they left the aircraft at Sydney about 7 p.m.

Passengers on Qantas

flight 44 which left Auckland for Sydney about an hour before the Christchurch to Sydney flight were more fortunate — their meals were served.

The public relations manager for Qantas, Mr Ken Boys, said last evening that the food was served because it was traditionally double catered. Qantas was sorry for any inconvenience to its passengers.

The Air New Zealand strike has cost Qantas about sAust42oo in compensation, plus the value of the 350 meals that were dumped.