Qantas allowed new argument in illegal sacking case

Steve Purvinas, who had served as federal secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) since 2006, had battled union officials over a no-confidence motion passed against him earlier this year.

VH-X4F, which touched down in Canberra on 3 April, is the sixth A220 in the Qantas fleet, and flew passengers for the first time as QF1271 from Canberra to Melbourne on Monday.

The competition and consumer watchdog, which granted an interim authorisation to the deal last year that has allowed Virgin and Qatar Airways to sell tickets on the flights, believes the arrangement is “likely to result in public benefits and is unlike…