Aircraft workers sacked at Melbourne Airport, tough economic conditions to blame - ABC Online

Updated July 31, 2013 20:07:42

Forty aircraft engineers in Melbourne are looking for new jobs, after being sacked.

John Holland Aviation has blamed tough economic conditions and the high Australian dollar for the retrenchments at Melbourne Airport.

Qantas said last year that more than 400 maintenance positions would be lost from Victoria.

Steve Purvinas of the Aircraft Engineers Association says maintenance work is moving away from the state.

"It's really hard because as an aircraft engineer, you start off usually at the age of 16," he said.

"We can't take our qualifications anywhere else. So anyone who's actually bound to Melbourne through their family ties or whatever it may be really don't have too many options."

Topics: business-economics-and-finance, industry, air-transport, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted July 31, 2013 19:42:00