‘Simple’: Anthony Albanese confirms government jet trip with Qantas boss Alan Joyce

Anthony Albanese has confirmed he allowed Qantas boss Alan Joyce to get a lift on a government jet earlier in the week.

Anthony Albanese has confirmed he gave Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce a lift on a government jet earlier in the week.

The Prime Minister was quizzed about the trip when he appeared on the Today show on Friday before the jobs and skills summit began for the day.

An unflustered Mr Albanese played down the high-powered flight, describing it as a “simple” arrangement.

“Look, we had the Business Council of Australia dinner on Wednesday night … so we put a whole lot of people on the jet that we made available so that people could make it to the summit,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played down the flight. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“You will be pleased to know that there will be a charge issued, so it wasn‘t a free trip.

“It will help the government to pay for the flight given the fact that there were so many business people from the Business Council of Australia and many industry leaders there.”

But Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic couldn’t help but press further.

“Do you think that is kind of ironic?” he quipped when Mr Albanese confirmed the trip.

Stefanovic also jokingly asked whether Mr Joyce’s bags had been lost.

“He was well looked after by the Royal Australian Air Force, who are very diligent,” Mr Albanese responded.

“There have been no lost bags on the Royal Australian Air Force ever.”

Qantas, like other Australian airlines, has struggled this year due to staff illness and customers flocking back to the skies in droves.

Long queues, delayed or cancelled flights and missing luggage have become a regular part of the flying experience in 2022.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce hitched a lift with Mr Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Albanese struck a similar tone about the trip when he appeared on ABC News Breakfast later on Friday morning.

“We had the Business Council of Australia dinner on Wednesday night, so myself and other ministers who were there, we offered lifts to anyone who wanted to come down,” Mr Albanese said.

“The RAAF will be paid a fare not just from Alan Joyce but from the head of the BCA, Jennifer Westacott, from Tim Reid and a bunch of others who were on the plane with us all together.”