The pilots union has produced an email which it says proves Qantas was planning to ground its fleet days before the airline claims to have made the decision.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says he only decided to take the unprecedented move on Saturday morning, after unions ramped up their industrial rhetoric in the wake of the airline's AGM on Friday.

But the Australian International Pilots Association (AIPA) has obtained an email apparently sent by Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan last night advising his staff of the actions being taken by Qantas.

The date on the memo was Wednesday October 26 and is addressed to team leaders saying: "By now you may be aware Qantas has announced a precautionary grounding of its fleet from 5pm Saturday", and warned of the Monday lockout.

AIPA vice-president Captain Richard Woodward says the date on the email reveals the extent of the airline's "calculated" plans to freeze operations.

"It is dated Wednesday 26th of October - so this has been planned and orchestrated," he said.

"You don't stop an airline overnight.

Qantas situation at a glance: Fair Work Australia (FWA) rules to terminate Qantas industrial action

Fair Work Australia (FWA) rules to terminate Qantas industrial action Qantas to resume flights from mid afternoon on Monday

Qantas to resume flights from mid afternoon on Monday Backlog could take at least 24 hours to clear

Backlog could take at least 24 hours to clear All domestic and international flights were grounded on Saturday

All domestic and international flights were grounded on Saturday Lockout of staff was to commence Monday morning

Lockout of staff was to commence Monday morning Qantas says 68,000 passengers affected worldwide

Qantas says 68,000 passengers affected worldwide 447 flights were cancelled worldwide

447 flights were cancelled worldwide Qantas is organising alternative flights and accommodation for stranded passengers, and refunds for people yet to travel.

Qantas is organising alternative flights and accommodation for stranded passengers, and refunds for people yet to travel. The Federal Government was only informed of Qantas' plan hours before it was announced.

The Federal Government was only informed of Qantas' plan hours before it was announced. Hotline for affected Qantas passengers: 13 13 13

Hotline for affected Qantas passengers: 13 13 13 Qantas updating passengers via its website, Facebook and Twitter

Qantas updating passengers via its website, Facebook and Twitter QantasLink and Jetstar are continuing to operate flights

"This has been a long considered plan by Qantas to escalate this dispute, right when CHOGM was happening, damaging our international reputation and just before Melbourne Cup, which is one of the busiest days of the year for the airline."

Jetstar says the date on the memo is incorrect and simple human error is to blame.

The airline says it used an old banner for the memo and forgot to change the date.

Legal action

AIPA has also revealed it is looking into taking legal action against Qantas, describing the decision to ground the fleet as "insane" and possibly in breach of the Fair Work Act.

Speaking outside the Qantas domestic terminal at Sydney Airport this morning, Mr Woodward said the union had its legal team looking into the legal options.

"We think that Alan [Joyce] may have been in breach of the Fair Work Act by his actions," Mr Woodward said.

"He has locked out the short-haul pilots, they are not in this dispute - their award is not up for negotiation until next year."

Mr Woodward says the short-haul operations of Qantas are the most profitable arm of the airline.

"It's an insane reaction," Mr Woodward said.

He criticised the company for trying to upstage the dispute with the union, saying the airline was trying to "goad us into action".

Mr Joyce says the airline always has contingency plans, but the decision to ground the fleet was only made on Saturday morning.

He says Qantas was forced into a corner when it met with unions after the AGM and they ramped up their rhetoric.

"Unfortunately after the AGM the unions were more aggressive," he said.

"They were talking about 48-hour stoppages, ramping her up, baking us for a year, for this lasting for a long time.

"They walked out of the meeting. They said they were annoyed at the shareholders massively supporting Qantas.

"They weren't listening to our shareholders and then they talked about escalating the dispute.

"That was the threshold moment that changed everything."

No plans to strike

Mr Woodward said Qantas pilots never had any intention of going on strike and claims to the contrary were simply untrue.

"All we were thinking about doing was not ringing in before heading into work," he said.

"We are very conservative people, we know that Qantas passengers hold us in trust... they trust us to get them there safely and we always intended on doing that."

AIPA said it was seeking a new clause in the enterprise bargaining agreement with Qantas that would ensure that all of the airline's flights were operated by pilots from the airline as opposed to being outsourced.

"If the airline wants to grow overseas, fine, but not [at the] expense of a great Australian icon," Mr Woodward said.

He said the only industrial action Qantas pilots had been taking was in-flight announcements about the industrial dispute, as well as the donning of red ties that carried the message "Qantas flight, Qantas pilots".

ABC/wires