Qantas engineering chief David Cox said that while an audit completed in August found shortcomings, later checks and reviews showed that the contractor had improved its work quality to meet the standards.

"We have done a lot of work with that supplier to get them up to scratch, and then we moved on," Mr Cox said.

He said it was only after an audit three months ago that Qantas was satisfied the contractor, Singapore Airlines Engineering Company, was performing to acceptable standards.

A leaked document details 14 problems with checks by Singapore Airlines Engineering, including poor workmanship and damage to an aircraft.

Unions have called on the Federal Government to hold a parliamentary inquiry into the use of overseas maintenance contractors for performance checks and overhauls for Australian airlines.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary Doug Cameron said the Government and the Opposition should support the inquiry.

"The inquiry should include all airlines and they (the parties) should demand that Qantas and Virgin deliver all their internal audits to the Parliament on the incidents and problems arising from overseas maintenance," he said.

"The Government in particular has an obligation to take clear steps to safeguard the Australian flying public," Mr Cameron said.

Aircraft engineers have called on Qantas to stop overseas maintenance.

Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association spokesman Steve Purvinas said Qantas had increased overseas work since closing its heavy maintenance facility in Sydney last year, despite declaring the work would stay in Australia.

"Qantas is not giving the public the full story on the quality of maintenance work being carried out overseas," Mr Purvinas said.

Mr Cox said only a small part of the work was done overseas.

He acknowledged that the airline was trying to lower costs to compete with overseas contractors.

Virgin buys planes to fly to US west coast QANTAS will soon face more competition on its lucrative trans-Pacific route.

Virgin Blue has signed a A$2.2 billion deal for six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to be used on flights to the US west coast.

Virgin Blue chief executive Brett Godfrey said: "This is a significant milestone for Virgin Blue and for Australian aviation."

It will start the flights under a new name and will aim to cut fares and curtail the duopoly on the route held by Qantas and United Airlines.

Approval for flights is yet to be given by the US Government.

Virgin hopes its new venture will create almost 1200 Australian jobs.

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