A pay dispute between Qantas and its engineers has led to more aircraft flying with "allowable defects," minor technical problems with which planes are allowed to fly for a limited time.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) said before the current round of overtime bans by engineers, there were 750 allowable defects among Qantas' 130-strong fleet of aircraft.

"Over a three-week period that's risen to 1810, which is more than double, which is, I guess. going to continue heading north unless (Qantas) come to the table next week with something and we can reach a solution," ALAEA federal secretary Steve Purvinas said today.