Qatar Airways Brisbane flights: Govt’s ‘Qantas bias’ to cost Qld economy $127m a year

The federal government’s controversial move to block more flights from Qatar will cost the Queensland economy an estimated $127m a year in lost revenue.

• Editor’s view: Flights decision must be reviewed

The federal government’s controversial move to block more flights from Qatar will cost Queensland tourism an estimated $100m a year.

While the government remains under fire over allegations of favouritism towards Qantas, The Saturday Courier-Mail can reveal Queensland has no qualms about the Gulf State, with Qatar Airways receiving lucrative incentives to fly directly into Brisbane seven times a week as part of Queensland’s $200m aviation war chest.

Brisbane Airport representatives also wrote to the federal government to push the case for the extra flights, which would have been worth an estimated $127m a year to the Queensland economy.

The revelations come as Labor’s national president Wayne Swan on Friday said there should be an “appropriate review” of the decision.

The government remains under fire over allegations of favouritism towards Qantas. Morgan/Getty Images)

“These things are negotiated, government-to-government from time to time,” he told Nine. “An appropriate review where things are, given all these revelations, would be good.”

As tourism struggled to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic in early 2022, the state government and private sector launched an “attracting aviation investment fund” to encourage international airlines to return to Brisbane or increase flight frequency in a bid to boost visitation from overseas.

Twenty-five international airlines have so far made agreements under the scheme, with Qatar viewed as a major strategic partner.

Brisbane Airport representatives met with the federal government to push the case for the extra Qatar Airways flights.

The exact terms of the agreement with Qatar Airways remain confidential, but it is understood the deal is worth millions of dollars in sweeteners to ensure the airline remains committed to Brisbane.

It’s in stark contrast to the revelation this week that a federal government decision to block a move to add 21 more flights per week into Australia from Qatar was made “in the national interest … and would help keep Qantas profitable”.

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said increased flights and visitor numbers could only be good for the state.

Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Stephen Beckett confirmed representatives had wrote to Canberra to outline the huge benefits of more flights from Qatar.

“Our submission in June supported Qatar’s request for an additional flight to BNE, highlighting the benefits the extra capacity offered, including a $127m annual boost for Queensland’s tourism industry, increased cargo capacity for exporters and lower fares for passengers,” Mr Beckett said.

A state government spokesman declined to comment.