I think the government should be aware of the significant consequences to Australia’s economic sovereignty if QR is granted this whopping 28 extra frequencies. No way should they be given this ridiculous number they are asking for. How many
Australian![Flag: Australia :flag_au: 🇦🇺](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f1e6-1f1fa.png)
jobs are at risk? How much $ will it take away from our
Australian
-owned and
Australian![Flag: Australia :flag_au: 🇦🇺](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f1e6-1f1fa.png)
-based airline which has a vast majority
Australian![Flag: Australia :flag_au: 🇦🇺](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f1e6-1f1fa.png)
workforce?
I think people also need to realise that the small gains the Australian economy will make with allowing QR (eg more transport for our exports) will be crushingly outweighed by the consequences I have mentioned above.
“Increased tourism by allowing more QR flights” is another argument from the pro-QR camp but it’s such a furphy as there will be more Australians choosing to go overseas instead of domestic travel/tourism if there are additional QR flights, cancelling out any gain QR gives by bringing international tourists here, or even a
net negative reduction in tourism in Australia. How many
Australian![Flag: Australia :flag_au: 🇦🇺](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f1e6-1f1fa.png)
tourism operators will be at risk by allowing more QR flights?
Airfares are down 13% since last year and will continue to go down. Australia has one of the most competitive aviation markets in the world.
It wasn’t in the national interest then, and I think it continues to not be in the national interest now.
Also, Qatar Airways have now
confirmed that they will seek to buy
Virgin Australia either in part or in full. I hence request that the moderators reopen the thread “
Qatar Airways may buy Virgin Australia in full - what are the consequences?” so that the forum can discuss and debate these new developments. The majority of AFF dismissed it as ridiculous speculation, at the time, now it’s true.
TLDR:
Bad for our Australian-owned and Australian-based airline who employs a 85%> Australian workforce.
Bad for Australian tourism operators, and the Australian cities that depend on tourism.