An Australian court has fined airline giant Qantas a record A$90m (£43m; $59m) for illegally sacking more than 1,800 ground workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Australia's Transport Workers' Union said it welcomed the penalty, which is the largest imposed by a court for violations of industrial relations laws in the country's history.

A court ordered Australia’s largest airline, Qantas Airways , on Monday to pay a record fine of A$90 million ($58.64 million) for illegally sacking 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and criticised it for a lack of contrition.

A judge has fined Qantas Airways $59 million for illegally firing over 1,800 ground staff at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.