Qantas has slammed Perth Airport after it bizarrely seized a number of Virgin Australia planes and blockaded them on the tarmac with bulldozers.
Coming to its embattled rival’s defence, just days after it entered voluntary administration, Qantas called the move ‘ridiculous’ and ‘extraordinary’.
On Friday, pictures showed Virgin Australia planes being prevented from moving at Perth Airport over claims the company owes a ‘significant’ amount of money.
The airline was placed into voluntary administration on Tuesday, with four of its planes now being blocked by airport vehicles to stop a towbar from being attached to them.
Perth Airport claims to be owed $16 million, and announced it is seizing the aircraft to protect itself.
Bulldozers are being used to block Virgin Australia planes from being removed from the tarmac at Perth Airport (pictured on Friday) over claims the company owes $16 million
The airport is believed to have a lien, which means a legal right of possession until debts are paid, on the four planes.
‘Even by Perth Airport’s standards, this is extraordinary behaviour,’ Qantas said in a statement on Friday.
‘Protecting your interests is one thing but parking a bulldozer in front of an aircraft while…