Hrdlicka urges government to rethink its Qatar decision
Virgin Australia boss Jayne Hrdlicka has called on the government to reconsider its decision to block Qatar Airways from adding flights to east coast cities, saying it would have an immediate impact on reducing fares and boosting tourism.
In her first direct comments about the decision, first revealed by The Australian Financial Review, Ms Hrdlicka said Virgin Australia was “deeply disappointed” that its partner Qatar Airways “is unable to expand its services to Australia”.
Jayne Hrdlicka: “Additional Qatar flights would have an immediate and tangible effect in reducing airfares.”
“The Senate committee hearing in Adelaide on the cost of living has again highlighted the importance of increasing aviation capacity between Australia and key regions in the world,” she said.
“International airfares today are nearly 50 per cent higher than pre-COVID. Additional Qatar flights would have an immediate and tangible effect in reducing airfares between Australia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.”
Rival Qantas lobbied the government to block Qatar and said on Monday the debate “completely distorts” how competitive the international market already is. Qantas’ head of international operations, Cam Wallace, said that though “people always want cheaper fares” they would have to wait for the recovery of international carriers.
He said airlines such as Singapore Airlines and China Southern were adding more flights than Qatar was seeking, but did not mention that they do not have capacity available immediately and the bulk of flights will not come until next March.
Ms Hrdlicka took aim at Qantas’ claims about the restoration of international capacity, saying Qatar is “unique” in being able to “quickly” add services.
“Qatar is in the
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