Qatar denied extra capacity into Australia

[RooFlyer]

Labour ranks starting to splinter. South Australia Government taking up the fight to have Qatar have more space. Good on them.

Yep. Queensland too. And Wayne Swan earlier.

Acting Queensland Premier Steven Miles said on Sunday that the state government wanted “to see as many flights into Queensland as we possibly can”.

“The additional flights, additional capacity, would create supply which drives down prices, makes fares more affordable.”

Mr Miles said Qatar Airways’ bid was a decision for the Albanese government but “if it was up to us, they would be approved”.

And there is a blistering column in the Oz this morning by Robert Gottliebsen. He's after the Chairman as well as the CEO!

 

[jase05]

Yep. Queensland too. And Wayne Swan earlier.



And there is a blistering column in the Oz this morning by Robert Gottliebsen. He's after the Chairman as well as the CEO!

To be fair as minority stake holders in VA, of course the QLD government would be pushing the QR barrow

 

[VPS]

Labour ranks starting to splinter. South Australia Government taking up the fight to Qantas. Good on them. Source 'The Australian' today.


"A South Australian government spokesman said it “believes more flights and more international airlines flying in and out of Adelaide will drive down prices, making it more affordable for South Australians to travel and encourage more international visitors”.

The spokesman also said Qatar Airways was a “valued partner to the state” and urged Qantas to reinstate international flights from Adelaide Airport.

“We appreciate Qatar Airways’ commitment to South Australia since it started flying to Adelaide in 2016, in particular during Covid when Qatar played a unique and vital role in repatriating South Australians and transporting tonnes of cargo to maintain supply chains for South Australian agriculture exporters,” the spokesperson said.

“Qatar has serviced South Australians far more than many other international airlines. We also urge Qantas to reinstate international flights to and from Adelaide … since it cancelled its direct Adelaide-to-Singapore flights in 2013.”"

Go for it - as much as I don't like Qantas I am LTG and have a heap of points - direct flights to Singapore from Adelaide would be fantastic (or more Qatar flights that were available for reward bookings)

 

[jrfsp]

Senate may probe government's rejection of more Qatar flights

Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie will push for an inquiry, saying many Australians are disappointed with a decision to block Qatar Airways from adding extra direct flights to major ports.

www.abc.net.au

This isnt going away anytime soon

 

[kyle]

Let's get our popcorn ready.

 

[JessicaTam]

Let's get our popcorn ready.

I have already finished mine. I better get some more!

 

[Lynda2475]

If only those senators had shown the same level of interest for seeking appropriate remedy for those Aussie women who were forcibly removed from a Qatar flight and sexually assaulted in Doha.

IMO it is right to deny Qatar (airline and government are the same entity in this case) further access to Australia, given they refuse to acknowledge any wrong doing.

 

[jrfsp]

If only those senators had shown the same level of interest for seeking appropriate remedy for those Aussie women who were forcibly removed from a Qatar flight and sexually assaulted in Doha.

IMO it is right to deny Qatar (airline and government are the same entity in this case) further access to Australia, given they refuse to acknowledge any wrong doing.

Australia welcomes Qatar apology over internal exams of women

Foreign ministers of Qatar and Australia speak for the first time after October 2 incident at Doha airport.

www.aljazeera.com

 

[Pushka]

I have already finished mine. I better get some more!

Maybe we might need that unpacking device posted by @VPS for all the large popcorn boxes now on order.

 

[VPS]

Maybe we might need that unpacking device posted by @VPS for all the large popcorn boxes now on order.

I used it this morning to unpack my box of Qantas wine and didn't find it that useful so back in the giveaway box. Surprisingly I got 12 bottles of wine instead of 6 wine and 6 water

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Isn't ADL exempt from the cap so maybe Qatar should just run lots of services to ADL and setup well-timed VA connections?

 

[Pushka]

Isn't ADL exempt from the cap so maybe Qatar should just run lots of services to ADL and setup well-timed VA connections?

They'd have to bring in early morning arrivals as the late flight arrives after domestic flights are closed. And there's the curfew.

 

[Chicken]

The Greens have held a press conference at which MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown confirmed they will seek to compel documents relating to the Qatar flight-slot decision to be produced to the Senate.
Watson-Brown questioned whether ministerial intervention was designed to “protect Qantas profits” and reminded that Qantas is “not the national carrier” because it was privatised.
Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said that the controversy had confirmed that government is “too close to big corporations” - but declined to express a view about whether transport minister, Catherine King’s, decision was actually wrong.

The Greens and the LNP both going after ALP, this is gonna be a headache

 

[levelnine]

IMO it is right to deny Qatar (airline and government are the same entity in this case) further access to Australia, given they refuse to acknowledge any wrong doing.

You're weeks too late.

The Government has long moved on from that figleaf of an excuse for its decision. It never was and never will be about that.

 

[Himeno]

Isn't ADL exempt from the cap so maybe Qatar should just run lots of services to ADL and setup well-timed VA connections?

Yes, ADL is not capped under the Qatar-Australia air service agreement.
Neither are AVV or OOL.
If QR wants to add flights to Melbourne, they can fly to Avalon. If anyone complains about the distance to the airport, they don't have a leg to stand on. The Skybus takes an hour between the Melbourne CBD and AVV, which is the same time as the Narita Express takes between NRT and Tokyo Station.
OOL is also reasonably close enough to Brisbane.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, ADL is not capped under the Qatar-Australia air service agreement.
Neither are AVV or OOL.
If QR wants to add flights to Melbourne, they can fly to Avalon. If anyone complains about the distance to the airport, they don't have a leg to stand on. The Skybus takes an hour between the Melbourne CBD and AVV, which is the same time as the Narita Express takes between NRT and Tokyo Station.
OOL is also reasonably close enough to Brisbane.

And which I understand is currently not an international airport so that presents the logistics of customs and immigration. Let alone connecting flights.

 

[jrfsp]

Yes, ADL is not capped under the Qatar-Australia air service agreement.
Neither are AVV or OOL.
If QR wants to add flights to Melbourne, they can fly to Avalon. If anyone complains about the distance to the airport, they don't have a leg to stand on. The Skybus takes an hour between the Melbourne CBD and AVV, which is the same time as the Narita Express takes between NRT and Tokyo Station.
OOL is also reasonably close enough to Brisbane.

OOL runway is too short for direct flights to the ME

 

[RooFlyer]

Isn't ADL exempt from the cap so maybe Qatar should just run lots of services to ADL and setup well-timed VA connections?

Yes! That's what I've been hoping for# - but I don't think QR will do that while Qantas is under the slow rotisserie - they may well get what they want.

# I originate in Tas, but usually choose ADL for QR departures are there is usually better availability and better seat selection close to departure.

 

[Lynda2475]

You're weeks too late.

The Government has long moved on from that figleaf of an excuse for its decision. It never was and never will be about that.

Disagree it is definitely partly about that as it should be.

Post automatically merged: Sep 4, 2023

Australia welcomes Qatar apology over internal exams of women

Foreign ministers of Qatar and Australia speak for the first time after October 2 incident at Doha airport.

www.aljazeera.com

That is just laughable, if it were sincere there wouldn't be on going legal action.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

The PM dug in even further on this (without actually saying much of anything) when asked multiples during question time today, so safe to say they've decided capitulating is worse than the (continued) inability to provide a compelling reason for the decision.

Whether that proves to be arrogant or good strategy remains to be seen, but if the hope is that this now falls quickly out of the news-cycle, well, best of luck to them.