Qatar Airways chief to miss first Senate hearing into bilateral air rights

The main players in the Qatar Airways controversy will be notably absent from day one of a Senate committee inquiry.

Qatar Airways will not appear before the first public hearing of a Senate committee inquiry into bilateral air rights examining the government’s decision to refuse the airline more flights into Australia.

Committee chair Bridget McKenzie confirmed on Monday that Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker would not be present at the first hearing on Tuesday in Sydney but was confident he would co-operate.

An Australian representative of Qatar Airways indicated someone from the airline would appear before both hearings set down for next week, but could not confirm Mr Al Baker’s presence.

The controversial CEO only recently broke his silence on the Australian government’s decision to deny Qatar Airways more flights, telling CNN it was “very unfair”.

Labor Senator and committee member Tony Sheldon said Mr Al Baker should front up to the inquiry rather than provide commentary on Australia from the other side of the world.

“If the Liberals and Nationals want to give Qatar’s state-owned airline open entry, the Senate needs to scrutinise its practices,” Senator Sheldon said.

“Mr Al Baker is no more above the law or parliamentary scrutiny than (Qantas chair) Richard Goyder or (Qantas CEO) Vanessa Hudson, and I expect to see all of them at this inquiry.”

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker.

A spokesman for Senator McKenzie said all witnesses requested by the committee were co-operating.

“The final program hasn’t been finalised for all the days of the hearing,” he said.

Senator McKenzie added that all invitees had indicated they were “willing to assist” the committee.

The inquiry was set up in the wake of widespread outrage among tourism operators, airports and exporters about the decision made by Transport Minister Catherine King in July.

Neither Ms King nor the Prime Minister have been able to explain the decision, which came at a time when the travel industry was crying out for more international airline capacity.

Among the reasons Ms King has put forward are national interest, decarbonisation and human rights, following the treatment of Australian women in a horrific incident at Hamad International Airport in October 2020.

Qantas objected to the additional flights by Qatar on the basis they would “distort” the recovering travel market and impact Australian jobs in aviation.

A Qantas spokeswoman confirmed representatives of the airline would appear before the committee with hearings scheduled for Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra.

But it was not yet known if Mr Goyder, Ms Hudson and former CEO Alan Joyce would all face a public grilling.

Mr Joyce is understood to be overseas after leaving the country hours after he brought forward his retirement by two months.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka is due to front the inquiry next week, after previously speaking out against the decision.

Ms Hrdlicka negotiated a strategic partnership with Qatar Airways last year, in a deal that provided Velocity frequent flyers with opportunities to redeem points on long-haul international flights.

Tuesday’s hearing is expected to focus on the constraints at Sydney Airport, which have made it difficult for international airlines to get access to Australia’s biggest gateway.

Senator McKenzie told Sky News on Monday they wanted to get to the bottom of the issues including why Ms King was yet to act on recommendations to reform Sydney’s demand management scheme.

“We know that Peter Harris’s report is sitting on Catherine King’s desk. He’s a former head of the Productivity Commission. He did a report for our government, that’s now sitting with her,” Senator McKenzie said.

“She could make decisions tomorrow to increase flexibility about flying in and out of Sydney. That would put downward pressure on prices. She’s choosing not to do that.”

The Senate committee is aiming to deliver a final report on its inquiry by October 9.