More than half of Australians disapprove of the decision by Qantas last month to ground its domestic and international fleet, a new poll shows.
The Essential poll released today shows 53 per cent of respondents opposed the airline's decision, taken on October 29 during an ongoing industrial dispute with three unions.
The grounding caused travel chaos around Australia for several days and left travellers stranded overseas, with about 68,000 passengers affected.
The poll of 1038 people found 41 per cent blamed Qantas management for the grounding, compared with 20 per cent who said the workers were at fault.
A further 30 per cent of respondents said both parties equally shared the blame.
Asked to assess the major parties' handling of the dispute, 30 per cent approved of Labor's performance while 49 per cent disapproved.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and the coalition received 27 per cent approval, but the disapproval rating was 45 per cent.
Still, 59 per cent thought Qantas' decision to ground the aircraft would cause the most damage its reputation, against 32 per cent who though the industrial action by workers hurt the most.
The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) said the poll showed "enormous" brand damage had been inflicted on the airline by the grounding.
"All Qantas pilots want now is for the damage to Qantas's reputation to be restored," AIPA vice president Captain Richard Woodward said.
The decision to ground the fleet was taken by the airline's chief executive Alan Joyce.
