'4 that money expect more': Joyce cops it on Twitter

Twitter user @bushpix said: "Qantas management seems to believe that all you have to say is sorry and everything is OK - sorry doesn't cut it."

Most voters in a Fairfax online poll were also against Mr Joyce. Asked if Qantas went too far by deciding to ground the fleet and lock out workers, 58 per cent said yes, 42 per cent said no. More than 100,000 people had voted as of 9am today.

'Union sensationalists'

There was some sympathy for Mr Joyce, though. Twitter users were quick to point out that Qantas was simply playing the same game the unions were.

@Tom-Obrien91 said: "So the #unions can strike and protest but #qantas cant? Stop politicking and do what the court ordered union sensationalists."

@Jamesmacpherson said: "ACTU claims the #FWA decision as a 'win' for unions & #qantas claims it as a 'win' for the airline. Sounds like a 'spin-spin' decision."

1 per cent profit margin

London's The Guardian reported the grounding of Qantas planes at Heathrow, with an airport spokesman estimating hundreds of passengers would be unable to fly.

The newspaper spoke to industry experts, who said the airline was under immense pressure.

Consultant Chris Tarry said airlines in oversubscribed markets - such as the US and Europe - had to cut costs.

He said the entire industry operated on a collective profit margin of 1 per cent.

"Business as usual is not an option for any airline," Mr Tarry said.

Former British Airways manager John Strickland told the newspaper: "There are still legacy carriers that need to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. If fuel prices are going to remain high and airlines are to maintain long-term profitability, then they have to change."

"This is completely unacceptable"

The Los Angeles Times reported on the chaos at Los Angeles International Airport, with Qantas one of the airport's major carriers.

Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, said: "Qantas is a major customer of ours. Whenever disruption occurs for a major business customer, we feel their pain."

Meanwhile, AsiaOne News was on the ground at Hong Kong Airport, talking to customers affected by the airline's decision.

They spoke to Michael Fung, 57, who was in Hong Kong to attend a wedding. He said he no longer had any loyalty to the airline, after he was told his flight was cancelled only 15 minutes before it was meant to depart.

"The arrangements here are very poor. This is completely unacceptable. I won't fly this airline any more."

Sydney Morning Herald political editor Peter Hartcher apportioned blame for the chaos on Qantas management and the federal government.

"Qantas management cannot be prevented from making radical decisions if it's hell-bent on it, but the federal government cannot allow it to withdraw an essential national service in the process," Hartcher wrote.

"By allowing a shutdown, the government condoned social, business, economic and reputational damage on a national scale. It was a strategic partial isolation of an island continent. And it was quite unnecessary. [Prime Minister Julia] Gillard should have demanded an immediate ministerial order directing the end of industrial action by the unions and the company. This would have kept the fleet flying. Fair Work Australia could have dealt with the dispute without damage to the national interest in the meantime."

Ms Gillard said today that Mr Joyce had never asked the government to take action.