A new controversy has emerged between Qatar Airways and the Australian government. The Qatari airline has requested additional frequencies between Doha and Australia. Qatar Airways currently offers 35 weekly frequencies, serving five cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, MelbournePerth and Sydney. This means two daily flights to Melbourne (including an extended flight to Adelaide) and one daily flight to Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.
Qatar Airways would like 21 additional flights. This would enable him to double its frequencies to Sydney and Brisbane. There is talk of a third daily flight to Melbourne or the decoupling of this city from Adelaide. There is almost no traffic between the two airports, except for passengers with South Australia's capital as their final destination.
Except that the Minister for Transport, Catherine King, has refused to grant the new frequencies... She spoke of the country's national interest - i.e. the protection of the national airline Qantas. But also mistreatment of Australian women in October 2020 by security at Doha Hamad International airport. The Minister described the gynaecological examinations carried out at the airport as invasive.
Five female victims are suing Qatar Airways and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority over the incident. A letter from the lawyers to Catherine King, stating that " Qatar Airways does not carry passengers anywhere in the world, let alone at major Australian airports." would therefore have influenced the Minister's decision.
A way out of the crisis?
The CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Baker, is since up in armsrecalling the role played by Qatar during the Covid. The airline had continued to connect Australia to the rest of the world while Qantas had suspended all its flights. " We thought it was very unfair that our request was not accepted." said Akbar Al Baker. It would appear that the Australian government is now trying to find a way out that will benefit both Australia and Qatar. If QR finally receives authorisation for more flights, it will not be for several months...
All in all, the three Gulf carriers - Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways - offer up to 16 daily flights to Australia. Emirates is the most active in Australia with 8 daily flights to 4 cities. Etihad offers up to 3 daily flights in addition to the 5 Qatar Airways flights.
