Air NZ considers legal action against Qantas

Air New Zealand is considering its options, including legal action, for recovering the cost of a strike action by Qantas workers.

An Air New Zealand spokesman said the airline was considering its options and hoped to make a decision in the next week or two. Legal action was an option.

Air New Zealand uses Qantas staff for a range of services in Australia, including check in and aircraft preparation.

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Air New Zealand is threatening to sue Qantas to recover millions of dollars of costs.

A 10-week-long stand-off between Qantas and aircraft engineers ended last July but its impact was felt for months because of a backlog it created, the SMH reported.

Air New Zealand was also affected by a Qantas baggage handlers strike in March.

The Air New Zealand spokesman declined to put a cost on the disruption to the airline.

- NZPA