Qantas has rejected the basis of the competition regulator’s case against the airline, saying customers are not buying a specific flight when they book to travel but instead a “bundle of rights” to fly and blaming its booking systems for selling trips it had already cancelled.

In documents filed with the Federal Court, the airline said the regulator did not understand what service that the company was offering. It was not a “particular flight” but rights “consistent with Qantas’ promise to do its best to get consumers where they want to be on time”.