Australian Senate Declines to Reopen Inquiry into Qatar Airways’ Flying Rights

The Australian Senate has decided against reopening the inquiry into the denied additional flying rights for Qatar Airways (QR, Doha Hamad International) to key Australian airports including Sydney Kingsford Smith, Melbourne Tullamarine, Brisbane International, and Perth International. This decision came after a vote on February 26, which saw the motion to resume the Senate Select Committee on Commonwealth Bilateral Air Services Agreements hearings defeated by a narrow margin of 30 votes to 28.

The inquiry had initially garnered attention in September of the previous year when it scrutinized Qantas Group’s top executives over allegations of lobbying to block Qatar Airways’ access to Australia’s prime airports. This scrutiny was sparked by the unelucidated decision of Transport Minister Catherine King in July 2023 to reject Qatar Airways’ bid to double its weekly flights to these four airports, currently limited to 28 round trips per week.

Among the individuals sought for questioning was former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, who had not participated in the September hearings due to his departure from the company and temporary absence from Australia. Senator Bridget McKenzie, the committee’s chair at the time, cited unsatisfactory responses from Qantas to senators’ queries as a basis for proposing the resumption of the hearings, aiming to include testimonies from absent witnesses and Qantas’ government affairs representatives.

Despite the push for continued investigation, the motion’s defeat in the Senate signifies the conclusion of the inquiry, as confirmed by the parliament’s official website stating that the committee has completed its work.

In the wake of this development, Qatar Airways is reportedly preparing to submit a new application for increased flying rights into Australia, seeking to expand its operations and strengthen its presence in the Australian aviation market.