Australia's Qantas Airways has grounded all aircraft over a industrial dispute in a move that could cost it A$20 million (€15.1m) a day.
The airline said in a statement that from Monday evening it would lock out all employees over a protacted industrial dispute with the engineers association, pilots, catering and ground handling associations.
The unions have taken strike action since September over pay and opposing Qantas plans to cut soaring costs.
"This step is being taken in response to industrial action taken by these unions," Qantas said.
"The financial impact of action taken to date has reached A$68m and the action is costing Qantas approximately A$15m per week in lost revenue. Approximately 70,000 passengers have been affected and more than 600 flights cancelled."
Aircraft currently in the air would complete the sectors they are operating.
However, there will be no further Qantas domestic departures or international departures anywhere in the world, it said.
Australian transport minister Anthony Albanese said the government will take action to intervene in the dispute.
He said the government would make an urgent application to Fair Work Australia - an industrial court - to end all industrial action at the airline.
Airline Virgin Australia said it would accommodate Qantas passengers on current services where possible and was looking at adding more services in response to Qantas grounding its fleet.
"The airline is also in discussions with alliance partners to add extra capacity into the market as soon as possible," it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the head of the Australian pilots' association said the move by Qantas was "unprecedented" and will force the government's hand over the issue.
Barry Jackson of the Australian and International Pilots Association said: "We really need to address this sooner rather than later and get the aircraft back in the air."
Ireland's International Rules team had their travel plans disrupted due to the grounding of the Qantas fleet.
They had planned to fly from Melbourne to Sydney today to spend three days at a training camp ahead of the second test match at the weekend, but were forced to reschedule after the flight was cancelled.
The team now hopes to travel directly to the Gold Coast tomorrow night.
