Qantas asks the government not to review its decision to block Qatar Airways
Qantas has warned the Albanian government against reviewing its controversial decision to block additional Qatar Airways flights.
A Senate inquiry was launched into the Coalition’s decision last month to reject the golf company’s decision to add 28 extra flights to Australia’s major airports.
Submissions to the committee were written by Qatar Airways and local airlines Virgin and Rex.
Qantas has submitted its written submissions to the inquiry, urging the government not to review or appeal the decision by claiming it would affect Australia’s position in the global aviation market.
The move comes after former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce revealed in August that 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 deny additional Qatar Airways flights (stock image)
“Bilateral air services agreements are the result of a government-to-government process,” the airline said in its latest submission.
“Airlines and other parties have no appealable ‘rights’ in this context, and granting them would put Australia out of step with other jurisdictions in an environment where reciprocity is critical.
‘In similar areas, such as trade or taxation, there are no appeal provisions against other agreements between governments.’
Qantas said in its submission that it was imperative not to tamper with the decision as the industry recovers from the pandemic.
“It would be inappropriate to make a significant structural change to a major bilateral agreement, which had the potential to permanently disrupt the market while the sector was still recovering,” the submission read.
“That recovery is exactly what’s happening.”
Qantas pointed to Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Delta, ANA and China Eastern, which already had “capacity back to Australia”.
The national carrier claimed this had resulted in a decline in international business.
Qantas then added that there were ‘plenty of opportunities’ for airlines such as Qatar to add additional flights ‘under current arrangements’, but noted that the original application would not have increased the airline’s capacity that much.
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has submitted a request to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for a review of the controversial decision (stock image)
New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson (pictured) and Qantas chairman Richard Goyder were confronted with 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 abroad on a family matter, will be called in to lead the investigation upon his return to the country.
A final report on the case will be released on Monday.
Transport Minister Catherine King had rejected Qatar Airways’ original application in July.
The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority subsequently submitted a request to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for a review on August 14.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport responded that it was considering the request for consultations and would respond to the golf company if possible.
Qantas’ reputation has been damaged in recent months following the flight credit controversy, ACCC complaints, illegally firing employees and awarding a mandate to the Prime Minister’s son.