Al Baker Is Leaving QR

[OATEK]

But the QF pushers fail to understand that QR had 2 choices for a domestic Australian partner. So they tried QF first and QF turned them down.
So QR turned to their second choice VA which they had every right to do and the only sensible business choice. So if it hurts QF so be it. QF brought it on themselves. A classic example of a business own goal.

I wonder of guaranteed volumes for domestic had anything to do with QF's decision. If moving from EK to QR (and yes I believe they would be mutually exclusive as has been demonstrated) than there may have been little advantage for QF in terms of seats sold to the partner airline. We may never know, but rather than shooting themselves in the foot it may have been more status quo rather than risk lower volumes.