Labor blocked Qatar flights to protect Qantas’ profit

Ronald Mizen and Ayesha de Kretser

Updated Aug 28, 2023 – 10.56am, first published at 10.38am

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Qantas’ record $2.5 billion profit was “a good news story” and the Albanese government blocked extra Qatar Airways flights to keep the national carrier profitable, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said.

As Labor talks tough on competition policy and prepares to crack down on monopolies and duopolies using market power to dud consumers, Mr Jones indicated that Qantas was a special case.

clarification —

The story has been updated to provide additional information about international flight prices and to make clear that Qantas’ view that international flight capacity would not catch up to demand until 2028 related to the global industry, not its own operations.

Ronald Mizen is the Financial Review’s political correspondent, reporting from the press gallery at Parliament House, Canberra.

Ayesha de Kretser is a senior reporter with The Australian Financial Review covering the aviation and tourism sectors. She has previously reported on banking, mining and commodity markets.