Charter Plane Flies in Australia Crisis

A U.S. charter plane started flying freight around Australia Tuesday as part of a government-approved emergency service replacing 1,600 domestic pilots who have resigned en masse over a pay dispute.

The Miami-based Arrow Air DC-8 with its own crew was expected to be joined by passenger-carrying charter flights if no quick solution could be found to the crisis, airline officials said.

Australia’s Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft had been cleared for freight operations but the authority added that it had not received any inquiries about licensing charter aircraft for passengers.

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots said its members, who quit their jobs Thursday, would not waver in their demand for direct talks with the domestic airlines for a 30% raise.