Sydney Airport has accused airlines operating out of the United Arab Emirates of wasting almost half of the capacity they have been awarded – some 84 flights every week – even as the Albanese government refuses to allow Qatar Airways to fly an additional 28 services.

Sydney Airport’s chief executive Geoff Culbert said there were more than 14,000 landing slots going to waste every year because airlines across the board were not utilising their capacity. The IFM Investors-backed airport estimates that one service from China adds $500 million in annual economic value and creates around 5000 jobs.