Qld travel giant Flight Centre sticks up middle finger to govt’s Qantas stance

Steven Miles has taken a swipe at the Albanese government for blocking additional Qatar Airways flights, saying “if it were up to us they would be approved”.

Acting Premier Steven Miles has backed Flight Centre’s opposition to the Albanese government’s controversial decision to block additional Qatar Airways flights into Australia due to “national interest”.

Queensland-based travel giant Flight Centre on Sunday unleashed a national ad campaign protesting the Albanese Government’s move to block extra Qatar Airways flights into Australia, declaring “more seats drive down prices”.

Flight Centre boss Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner told The Sunday Mail the decision has “got right up the nose” of average Aussies battling sky-high airfares.

His company has taken out full-page newspaper ads calling on the government to “let ‘em fly”.

Mr Miles on Sunday said while the decision rests with the federal government, he “shared the sentiment”.

“We do share the sentiment of Flight Centre where you would want to see as many flights into Queensland as we possibly can,” he said.

“If it were up to us they would be approved, but it’s not up to us.

“We do support Qatar Airways with their existing flights.

“Those arriving passengers deliver economic activity here and that creates jobs here and prosperity.”

Flight Centre’s powerful intervention is a new phase in the backlash directed at the Labor government over the decision which has been criticised as a sweetheart deal to support Qantas.

Mr Turner warned the campaign would “go for a while … unless the government acts”.

The rollout of a national ad campaign by a major industry body was used to great effect in 2010 to stop Kevin Rudd’s mining tax.

Mr Turner’s comments come a day after National Labor President Wayne Swan called for a review into the ban.

In a move estimated to cost the Queensland tourism industry $127 million, the federal government last month rejected Qatar’s application for an extra 21 to 28 flights a week into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Flight Centre founder Graham "Skroo'' Turner. Photography David Kelly

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the decision was made “in the national interest” but it’s been widely condemned as a move to protect Qantas while keeping international airfares high through reduced competition and airline capacity.

Mr Turner said the decision was hurting everyday Aussies including Labor voters who were struggling to afford to fly overseas on holidays and to visit loved ones.

“It’s amazing how much this particular decision by the government has got up the average Australian’s nose,” the multi-millionaire businessman told the Sunday Mail.

“Everyone in the industry as far as I know wants lower airfares – it’s good for customers, it’s good for tourism, it’s good for people visiting relatives who may not be able to afford the fares at the level they’re at now.”

Mr Turner said the travel industry believed the decision had come “from the top” of the Albanese Government.

“It’s not only hurting the tourism industry, it’s also hurting probably a lot of Labor voters – lower income people who can’t afford to travel. There’s just not enough (airline) capacity at the moment.

“The government’s obviously painted themselves into a corner by not giving the reason why they knocked them (Qatar) back. They’re obviously not game to give the real reason.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Turner said while Qantas were “very strong” at lobbying the government, in the end it’s the government that makes the decision – not Qantas.”

He said international airfares to major destinations were up to 70 per cent higher than pre-Covid fares and while extra flights had been announced by the likes of Singapore Airlines, they would not start until next year.

He said there were “whispers” in the travel industry that the decision would be reversed but he was not overly confident.

“I think there’s probably a 50 per cent chance it will be reversed, but it needs to happen quickly or the benefits of it are going to be lost,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what the government does now, they’re not going to look good.”

The acting Premier’s words were echoed by Treasurer and acting Tourism Minister Cameron Dick and Tourism and Events Queensland chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan, who said the decision rested with the federal government.

“We understand that this is a decision sitting with the federal government,” Ms O’Callaghan said.

“But … any decision that’s going to increase competition and therefore affordability to the state will only be a good thing.”

Ms King’s office declined to comment.