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Benefits of extra Qatar Airways flights “overstated” Qantas tells government hearing
October 5th 2023
Qantas Airways has told an Australian parliamentary committee the estimated economic benefits to the Australian economy of Qatar Airways operating more flights into the country are overstated. Read More » The committee is looking into Australia's air services agreements and the federal government's rejection of an application from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) that Qatar Airways be granted greater access to Australia's Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports. Qantas, which objected to the application, said in a written submission to the committee Qatar Airways flew a “disproportionately high number of outbound Australia-based passengers”, and added the Australia-Europe market was extremely well served via hubs other than the Middle East, including Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Singapore. “On that basis, suggestions that granting the QCAA application would have materially advanced the Australian tourism industry’s recovery are overstated,” Qantas said.
