International flights were delayed by up to three hours after more than 1000 ground staff took strike action at key airports across the country, disrupting commuters ahead of the long weekend.

Baggage handlers at major airport contractor Dnata stopped work for four hours on Friday morning at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane as a year-long bargaining dispute came to a head. The Transport Workers Union has not ruled out taking further action in its bid for a 16 per cent pay rise over two years and secure working conditions.