Industrial action by airline delays PM Kamla's departure from Australia

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Industrial action by Australia's national airline has delayed the departure from Australia of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and members of her delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which ended Sunday in Perth.

The labour dispute has affected as many as 70,000 passengers worldwide who depend on the services of Quantas Airlines.

Media reports say the Office of the Prime Minister has cancelled bookings on Quantas.

“We are trying to get out and hopefully we will be getting out soon...But all of the other airlines are already fully booked because of the CHOGM,” Newsday quoted an official source as saying.

The Prime Minister had planned to be back home by November 7. However that is no longer certain. “At this stage we still do not know, we are trying to work around this,” the source said.

Quantas grounded its fleet worldwide on Saturday leaving thousands of passengers stranded in 22 countries. It took the action ahead of threats of strike.

At least leader 17 world leaders have been delayed in Australia because of the problem.

The Trinidad & Tobago delegation includes Minister of Trade and Industry Stephen Cadiz, Minister of Energy Kevin Ramnarine, Minister of the People and Social Development Glenn Ramadharsingh and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Suruj Rambachan.

Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard, said Sunday her government would help Commonwealth leaders fly home.