Tigerair faces pilot work ban tomorrow

Around 90 per cent of pilots employed by Tigerair have approved embarking on protected industrial action.

From tomorrow, Tigerair pilots will commence their action by not performing any work on rostered days off, annual leave days or days free of duty.

Industrial action in the form of other low-level bans conceived to minimise disruption to passengers was originally planned for December 2018, however this was suspended following Tigerair's successful application to the Fair Work Commission.

"After more than two years of negotiations Tigerair pilots feel there is no alternative left to them but to take this protected industrial action," said AFAP Industrial Officer James Lauchland.

"Most Tigerair pilots regularly work on their scheduled days off, meaning the company has come to rely on it as a normal business practice."

"This action simply involves pilots working to rule and refusing to offer this discretionary effort."

"If the company can't find another way to crew these flights, we are likely to see a large impact on Tigerair flights during the busy January holiday period."

"It was not our preference to engage in disruptive action but this is a direct consequence of the company challenging our other less disruptive actions at the Fair Work Commission."

Tigerair pilots and the company will continue attempting to resolve the bargaining impasse at a conciliation conference at the Fair Work Commission on 10 January.

Tigerair's CEO has been advised that these bans will take place from 4-9 January, and then again from 11-18 January, with no action on 10 January to allow conciliation to proceed efficiently.