Qantas says claims that it hoards peak landing slots at Sydney Airport to edge out rival carriers are unjustified, insisting it uses nearly 94 per cent of its allocation and is not cynically cancelling flights to maintain dominance.

As the Albanese government moves forward with new legislation designed to boost competition at the country’s busiest airport, Qantas domestic chief executive Markus Svensson told a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday that the airline took seriously the space it receives for flights.