Today there was a strike by the Qantas baggage handlers which cause a delay in the airport, with both domestic and international passengers inconvenienced, the airline said.

Baggage handlers walked off the job for four hours at Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth airports in protest at moves by the company to outsource work to contractors.

The workers refused to unload planes that landed while they were taking industrial action, with some passengers leaving their luggage at the airport to be forwarded by Qantas later.

‘Clearly this dispute is causing a lot of financial hurt to the airline and to our passengers,’ Qantas spokesman David Epstein told Sky News.

Transport Workers Union spokesman Hughie Williams said the strike was over Qantas’ decision to outsource work to a cheaper company.

‘We have no choice but to do this if we’re going to look after our members,’ Mr Williams said.

Qantas said domestic services were worst affected but international flights in Sydney and Brisbane were also impacted.