Qatar Airways Additional Flights Would Reduce Fares Senate Inquiry Hears
Evidence
presented
to
a
parliamentary
enquiry
indicates
that
reduced
airfares
and
a
$1
billion
increase
in
tourism
would
have
resulted
from
allowing
Qatar
Airways
to
operate
additional
flights
into
Australia.
Airline
Intelligence
and
Research
CEO
Tony
Webber
claimed
that
providing
more
services
to
Qatar
Airways
would
have
had
“positive
effects.”
On
Tuesday,
he
told
a
Senate
committee
that
airfares
would
be
cut
“substantially,”
or
by
between
7
and
10
percent.
The
previous
Qantas
Chief
Economist
estimated
that
the
increase
in
European
visitors
would
have
been
worth
up
to
$1
billion.
Webber
said
that
Qantas’
market
share
was
“substantial.”
Webber’s
comments
came
at
the
same
time
as
Akbar
al-Baker,
the
CEO
of
Qatar
Airways,
made
his
first
public
comments
about
the
Albanese
government’s
decision
to
prevent
the
increase
in
flights.
On
Sunday,
he
told
CNN
that
he
and
his
family
were
“very
surprised”
that
their
“legitimate
request”
had
been
denied
and
that
they
felt
it
was
“very
unfair”.
During
COVID-19,
we
assisted
with
repatriating
stranded
Australian
residents
worldwide
and
delivering
much-needed
medical
supplies
and
spare
parts.
All
operations
of
the
national
airline
and
its
associates
in
Australia
had
stopped.
We
were
there
for
the
Australian
people.
He
hoped
the
Albanese
government
would
consider
Qatar’s
contention
“carefully”
before
deciding,
as
Al-Baker
did.
He
refused
to
comment
further,
citing
the
pending
Senate
investigation
into
the
government’s
decision.
Webber
reportedly
said
the
Middle
Eastern
airline
was
an
“exceptionally
aggressive
competitor.”
He
said,
“It
will
aggressively
respond
if
a
new
carrier
encroaches
on
its
routes
and
market
share.”
Webber
added
that
following
the
epidemic,
major
markets
like
Sydney,
Melbourne,
and
Brisbane
were
Qatar’s
only
options
for
financially
viable
routes.
