Engineers at the Australian airline Qantas will begin striking indefinitely early next week over a pay dispute.

Hundreds of engineers will strike in phases over June 23 and June 26 in four capital cities over demands for a five per cent pay increase.

Qantas announced route cancellations and wage freezes last month because of the rising cost of fuel.

But the federal secretary of the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association, Steve Purvinas, says the airline can afford more than the below-inflation wage increase it is offering.

"They've basically increased their fares but called it a fuel excise to cover the cost of rising fuel," Mr Purvinas said.

"But it must be remembered, as well, that our aircraft engineers drive to work and pay for petrol as well so they got rising fuel costs too."

"When you say that they can only have a three per cent wage rise, it's unacceptable."