Releasing Qantas emails about Qatar Airways’ bid to double weekly flights into Australia could cause the local carrier “embarrassment, ridicule or public criticism” and damage Australia’s diplomatic relations, including with Qatar, Transport Minister Catherine King’s department says.

The Australian Financial Review can reveal Qantas emailed Ms King’s department on September 5 last year, providing comments on Australia’s “forward negotiating program” for bilateral air services agreements, and again on October 22 about “Australia-Qatar air services arrangements”.