Qatar Airways promises more flights by Christmas if government decision is reversed

Qatar Airways has told a Senate inquiry it could add extra flights by Christmas if a decision denying it more capacity is reversed.

Qatar Airways remains hopeful of adding extra flights to Australia by Christmas, after seeking a review of the decision to deny them another 28 services a week into major airports.

Two senior executives appeared before the Senate inquiry into bilateral air rights on Wednesday, telling the committee they were “shocked and surprised” by the decision.

Vice president of aeropolitical and corporate affairs Fathi Atti said limiting Qatar Airways to only 28 flights a week into Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, seriously disadvantaged the airline when their competitors operated significantly more services.

He said Qatar Airways had been confident their application for more flights would be approved, as an “acknowledgment” of the airline’s assistance during the Covid period.

“We never thought our application would be negatively received, until we heard through the media and a letter to our civil aviation authority,” said Mr Atti.

No reason was given for the denial, and Qatar Airways was still in the dark as to why the additional flights had been knocked back.

It was revealed Qatar Airways had planned to begin the extra services in April, and sought an update on their application lodged last August, in early March.

Mr Atti said he was informed by a senior public servant the application was still being processed but given no reason to believe at that time it would be denied.

The committee heard that throughout the process, questions about Qatar Airways’ employment policies or involvement in an incident at Hamad International Airport in 2020 were not raised with officials.

Qatar Airways senior vice president aeropolitcal and corporate affairs Fathi Atti appears before an inquiry into Australia's bilateral airservices arrangements. Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire

Vice president for global sales Matt Raos told the inquiry Qatar Airways employed 85 people in Australia, in mostly sales, marketing and airport roles.

He and Mr Atti also defended Qatar Airways’ “curfew” for cabin crew, saying it was for their own safety and their parents’ peace of mind when working in a foreign country.

The economic benefit of the additional flights was estimated by Qatar Airways to be “just over $3bn over five years”, and Mr Raos pointed out the airline had paid out over $600m in refunds to Australian travellers for flights cancelled over the Covid period.

A request for a review of the decision was now with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, which had until October 26 to respond.

Mr Atti was hopeful the decision would be reversed and Qatar would be granted the extra frequencies.

“We aim to operate before Christmas, we hope we manage to do that,” he said.

Australian Airports Association chief executive James Goodwin also faced the committee, telling senators the government more competition was needed in the domestic and international aviation market.

“(To deny extra flights) is not in the Australian interest, or that of airports or consumers,” Mr Goodwin said.

“We should be putting the red carpet out for any carrier that wants to fly in and out of Australia. Australia is a long way from the rest of the world.”

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka was due to appear before the committee this afternoon, followed by Qantas chair Richard Goyder and new CEO Vanessa Hudson.

Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce had informed the committee he was overseas and not available to appear either in person or via video link.

It’s understood Mr Joyce is spending time in Dublin with his mother, who is very unwell.

He was expected to notify the government when he returned to organise an appearance before the committee.