Qantas asks government to not review decision to block Qatar Airways
Qantas has warned the Albanese government against reviewing the controversial decision to block extra flights from Qatar Airways.
A senate inquiry was launched into the decision to reject the gulf carrier from adding 28 additional flights to Australia’s major airports by the Coalition last month.
Submissions to the committee were penned by Qatar Airways and local carriers Virgin and Rex.
Qantas delivered its written submission to the inquiry, where it urged the government against reviewing or appealing the decision by claiming it would affect Australia’s standing in the global aviation market.
The move comes after ex-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce revealed in August he had lobbied the government against allowing Qatar to fly more planes in and out of Australia.
Qantas has urged the government not to review or appeal the decision to reject additional flights from Qatar Airways (stock image)
‘Bilateral air services agreements are the result of a government-to-government process,’ the airline stated in its latest submission.
‘Airlines and other parties do not have ‘rights’ that can be properly appealed in this context and granting them would put Australia out of step with other jurisdictions in an environment where reciprocity is critical.
‘In analogous fields, such as trade or taxation, there are no appeal provisions in respect of other government-to-government agreements.’
Qantas said in its submission that it was imperative not to tamper with the decision as the industry recovers post-pandemic.
‘It would be inappropriate to make a significant structural change to an important bilateral agreement, which had the potential to permanently distort the market while the sector was still recovering,’ the submission read.
‘That recovery is exactly what is happening.’
Qantas pointed to Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Delta, ANA and China Eastern which had already ‘capacity back into Australia’.
The national carrier claimed it had resulted in a fall in international affairs.
Qantas then added that there was ‘plenty of opportunity’ for airlines such as Qatar to add additional flights ‘under the current arrangements’ but noted that the original application wouldn’t have increased the carrier’s capacity by that much.
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority made a request to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport for a review of the controversial decision (stock image)
New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson (pictured) and Qantas chairman Richard Goyder faced the senate inquiry last week.
New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson and Qantas chairman Richard Goyder faced the senate inquiry last week.
Former CEO Alan Joyce, who is overseas due to a family matter, will be called on to front the inquiry upon his return to the country.
A final report into the matter is due on Monday.
Transport Minister Catherine King had rejected Qatar Airways’ original application back in July.
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority then made a request to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport for a review on August 14.
The Department of Infrastructure and Transport responded that it was considering the request for consultation and would respond to the gulf carrier when possible.
Qantas’s reputation has been battered in recent months following the controversy over its flight credits, ACCC complaints, illegal sacking of workers and granting the Prime Minister’s son an executive chairman’s pass.