MH370 mystery must be solved at any cost, says Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker

THE search for MH370 must continue at any cost, an airline boss has insisted — despite Canberra’s refusal to cough up more funding.

The Fugro Equator has been on the job in the southern Indian Ocean since the mission began in October 2014. Picture: News Corp Australia

THERE should be no “price limit” on the search for MH370 because of the importance of solving the mystery.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker made the remarks in response to the Federal Government’s decision to provide no further funds to the mission in the southern Indian Ocean.

Australian taxpayers have already shelled out $90 million towards the complex operation, and Malaysia and China have also contributed.

Qatar Airways' Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker holds a press conference to talk about new Qatar Airways service to Sydney. Press conference held at Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney.

In 18 months of searching, vessels using hi-tech equipment have been unable to find any trace of the Boeing 777 although debris has washed ashore on Reunion Island and Mozambique.

Mr Al Baker said it remained of critical importance for countries “in this region” to find out what happened to the Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared almost without trace over two years ago.

“For me as the CEO of an airline, it’s very concerning that the international community for monetary purposes are going to abandon the search for this aeroplane.

“I don’t think there is any amount that is too much to find why this tragedy happened where over 200 people lost their lives.”

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He said finding answers was of particular relevance to countries “that you reach by being overseas for a long time”.

“IATA (the International Air Transport Association) has not done enough to raise the concerns of the airline community,” said Mr Al Baker, who is in Australia to launch direct flights between Adelaide and Doha.

“It is very critical for all in the industry, all the countries in the world to try to find the wreckage of this plane, to find out exactly what happened.

“In my opinion, it’s something unprecedented in our aviation history that an aircraft just disappears without trace and nobody’s able to find it, and nobody knows why.”

Sister and daughter of Cathy Lawton, who disapperaed on flight MH370, Jeanette Maguire and Amanda Lawton at the unveiling of a plaque and tree for the Lawtons, who disappeared in the MH370 mystery. To remind people the plane is still missing at Robelle Park, Springfield. Photo Ric Frearson

Jeanette Maguire whose sister Cathy and brother-in-law Bob Lawton were on board MH370 said she understood that the search could not go on indefinitely.

“I have very mixed emotions. This is my sister, her husband and their friends (fellow Australians Rodney and Mary Burrows),” said Ms Maguire.

“I don’t want the search to stop. We need to find our loved ones and know where their resting place is.

“But I am also a realist, and you have to ask where the money is going to come from to be able to continue the search. Many millions have been spent so far.”

Officials from Malaysia, China and Australia will meet when the priority search zone is fully scoured, but they have previously announced the operation won’t be continued without fresh evidence.