Hundreds of Qantas engineers hold snap strike amid pay dispute

Hundreds of Qantas engineers critical to aircraft maintenance are walking off the job this morning in a 24-hour strike, but the airline insists the industrial action is unlikely to cause flight delays or cancellations.

Engine components maintenance engineers at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport will down their tools from 9am, while in Brisbane heavy maintenance engineers are striking from 1.30am AEST.

The snap strike comes after weeks of industrial action by the Qantas Engineers' Alliance, - comprising the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Electrical Trades Union and Australian Workers Union - over a pay dispute.

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The Alliance is asking for a five per cent pay rise per year, starting with a 15 per cent pay rise this year to compensate to 3.5 years of wage freezes.

"When times were tough, our members accepted years of wage freezes," AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said.

"Now that the profits are flowing, it's time for Qantas to come to the table with a decent offer."

Large rallies are planned at Melbourne and Brisbane airports at 9 am.

Qantas told 9News.com.au the airline had "worked hard to put contingencies in place" during the strike and didn't expect any impact on customers.

"There's been some industrial action by engineers since late September and so far we've been able to successfully ensure it hasn't resulted in any flight delays or cancellations," a Qantas spokesperson said.

"Our teams continue to do a great job helping customers get to their destination safely."

More than 1000 engineers already walked off the job over the pay dispute on September 30 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra after kicking off in Melbourne.

The pay negotiations began in April, and the engineers' current enterprise agreement expired at the end of June.

Qantas said the union's pay requests were "unsustainable".

"It is Qantas' preference to reach an agreement that includes pay increases and other benefits," the spokesperson said.

"This includes annual pay increases, increased apprentice pay, as well as new career progression opportunities and more advanced training."

"Every time there is a problem at Qantas, the executives ignore it and just hope that it will go away," AMWU National Secretary Steve Murphy said.

"If Qantas wants to show the general public that things are going to change, then valuing the workers that deliver their safety record should be number one priority."