The TWU is calling for a Safe and Secure Skies Commission to lift standards in the aviation industry, following chaotic scenes and major delays at airports across Australia over the Easter long weekend.

In Adelaide, domestic passengers were warned to arrive two hours before their flights due to staff shortages caused by Morrison Government failures and Qantas outsourcing its services.

TWU SA/NT Branch Secretary Ian Smith said that the chaos we saw over the Easter long weekend was a result of the complete mismanagement of the aviation industry throughout the pandemic.

"We've had a huge exodus of workers from the industry and we're now seeing the devastating impact of this as planes return to our skies," said Smith.

"Skilled aviation workers have left the industry. They've been pushed out of the jobs they love, their work has become insecure, and many have been left no choice but to find other sources of income.

"We've seen Qantas illegally outsource over 2000 ground workers, and we've seen the Federal Government lock aviation workers out of JobKeeper support during the height of the pandemic. Now we're seeing an industry struggling to stay afloat, with huge queues at airports, planes being damaged, baggage being lost... It's outrageous. 

"We're lucky here in South Australia that we have a largely domestic market and a reasonably new airport, as our systems have been able to handle some of the pressure. But we've still felt the squeeze, and we aren't out of the woods.

"We saw the chaos in Adelaide over the weekend, as passengers were urged to arrive two hours early for their flights due to staff shortages. As the market fully recovers and international and corporate travel increases, we are only going to see more problems occur unless urgent action is taken to address the issues plaguing the industry.

"This situation is a direct result of the Morrison Govrnment's failure to support the aviation industry during the pandemic, and the illegal outsourcing of thousands of skilled workers by the likes of Qantas.

"The Federal Government needs to urgently step up and ensure safe and secure jobs for aviation workers if our industry is to have any chance of recovering."

The TWU is calling on the Federal Government to establish a Safe and Secure Skies Commission that would lift standards at airports and end spiraling unemployment, with stressed out workers currently doing the same jobs on vastly different rates and conditions, resulting in insecure work and jeopardising safety.