Industrial action may disrupt flights for AFL Grand Final week

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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Union action could put a dent in Melbourne’s grand AFL plans.

Buzz has been growing for the AFL Grand Final between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions on Saturday 28 September. But if you’ve bought a ticket to see the game live in Melbourne, you might have a bit of trouble getting there.

Thanks to an ongoing pay dispute, local Qantas aircraft maintenance workers are expected to continue industrial action ahead of the AFL grand final weekend. This could mean disruption in services.

qantas plane in mid air
Qantas passengers might be dealing with delays.

Unions are pushing for a 15 per cent pay rise this year and a further 5 per cent per year after that, to make up for over three years of wage freezes. Those same unions are saying this action is highly likely to affect Qantas flights not just in Melbourne, but in all capital cities. Qantas itself has also warned of possible delays.

Some passengers have been warned the airline is “anticipating a busy period which may affect your flight" (but if you’re one of these people, you would have already received an invitation to switch to an earlier flight with no extra costs.

Operations Manager at the RMIT Aviation Academy and former network controller for major airlines, Justin Brownjohn, says Melbourne will likely be fine, but other cancellations might be expected.

an afl game in melbourne stadium
It might be worth planning ahead if you plan to see the game.

“Although Qantas will likely protect flights associated with the AFL grand final, there may be cancellations to other routes," he said.

“If a flight is cancelled, passengers will likely be moved to remaining available seats that same day. That could mean a lengthy delay if you don’t hold status with your carrier or if you bought a low-cost budget airline fare, which won’t be prioritised for another service."

If Qantas experiences disruptions, it is unlikely that flights will be increased at Virgin or Jetstar because their available capacity would already have been deployed. Besides the passengers already contacted, however, a Qantas spokesman said it doesn’t think the action will affect travellers.

“We’re putting contingencies in place and don’t currently expect this industrial action to have an impact on customers," they said.

tip of qantas plane wing flying over australian city
Although experts feel Melbourne flight will be protected, while other cities might see cancellations.

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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This geological wonder is hiding in the heart of Victoria

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    Mythical, historical and most of all, spectacularly beautiful, Buchan Caves demands you take your time – and a tour. 

    In the pools of water, so still they could be mirrors, the reflections of the stalactites make these limestone towers seem even taller. Almost 400 million years ago, an underground river carved through the rock to create the Buchan Caves. Now, artworks created by dripping water adorn these subterranean galleries: stalactites hanging from the ceiling, pillars connecting some to the ground, even curtain-like wave formations clinging to the stone.

    Caves House
    Visit the caves for the day or stay onsite in the campground or at the self-contained Caves House. (Image: Ben Savage)

    “This is called the Fairy Cave because it’s full of fairy dust,” a guide tells visitors as they enter a cavern glittering with “calcite that’s solidified into thousands of tiny little diamond shapes”.  Buchan Caves is Victoria’s largest cave system, but Fairy Cave is a highlight and, along with nearby Royal Cave, is accessible only by tour. Naturally cold, naturally dark, these caverns deep below the surface light up as the local experts tell their stories. 

    couple walking in cave
    You’ll need to book a guided tour to see the caves. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the hundreds of caves, some can be easily accessed from the surface. For instance, a casual stroll along the FJ Wilson Interpreted Walk, as kangaroos watch on from beneath acacia trees, leads into the 400-metre-long Federal Cave and its natural steps of white limestone. A slightly longer track, the Granite Pools Walk heads through soaring forest down into moss-covered gullies where the calls of lyrebirds trill through the leaves. 

    A quick history lesson on Buchan Caves 

    Buchan Caves
    Buchan Caves are a must-visit attraction in Gippsland. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Among the geology and the nature are millennia of history. This part of East Gippsland connects the high country to the coast and was long a place of refuge for the local Gunaikurnai people on seasonal migrations to the mountains. Archaeological studies show humans lived here up to 18,000 years ago, with artefacts such as small stone tools found around the site. But not too far into the caverns – oh no! The Gunaikurnai didn’t dare venture deep into the dark at Buchan Caves, telling stories they were inhabited by gnome-like nyols (small grey-skinned creatures that could steal memories). 

    Buchan Caves Hotel
    The Buchan Caves Hotel was rebuilt after burning down in 2014. (Image: Jess Shapiro)

    By the early 1900s, more people had started to hear about these incredible caves and so the Moon family set up home at the site and started to run tours below ground for intrepid visitors. More than a century later, their historic residence is available as accommodation, with the three-bedroom house sleeping up to eight people and now equipped with modern amenities the Moons could only have dreamt of. 

    But whether you stay overnight or just spend the day here, it’s worth taking your time to explore more than just the main caves, to get a deeper understanding of one of Victoria’s fascinating geological attractions. 

    Qantas Delays May Be Expected Ahead Of AFL Grand Final | Australian Traveller