There is no tinderbox quite like that which sits at the heart of industrial relations in Australia’s aviation sector. So one has to question why Virgin would risk igniting a flare-up with the powerful Transport Workers Union (TWU) by appointing a chief executive that the union is attempting to veto.

For its part the union is firing a shot across the bow – designed to let its private equity owner Bain know that former Qantas executive Paul Jones could be a dangerous decision for the future of industrial relations harmony.

This week, the TWU threatened it would withdraw its support for Virgin’s tie-up with Qatar Airways if the airline appointed Jones, who is currently Virgin’s chief customer and digital officer. The partnership with Qatar is an important element in Virgin’s move to re-launch long-haul international services.

Paul Jones, Chief Customer and Digital Officer for Virgin Australia.

But it’s a big swing for the union given having a say in any executive appointments sits well outside any union’s wheelhouse. It doesn’t play directly into workers’ pay and conditions or even wider public interest........

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