AIRLINES – QATAR

ACCC ticks Virgin-Qatar flights plan

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Original article by Ayesha de Kretser
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 & 19 : 19-Feb-25

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has backed Vigin Australia’s proposed alliance with Qatar Airways. The ACCC’s draft determination has concluded amongs other things that the wet-lease agreement will be advantageous to travellers by offering a greater choice of international flights, more convenience and enhanced loyalty program benefits. Qatar Airways will also acquire a 25 per cent stake in Virgin if the deal receives final approval from the ACCC, and ultimately the Foreign Investment Review Board and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

CORPORATES
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, QATAR AIRWAYS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Qatar Airways to match Qantas for repatriation flights

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Original article by Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 4 : 8-Oct-24

Qatar Airway has agreed to a request from the federal government to operate two repatriation flights to bring home Australians who are stranded in Lebanon. The proposed flights would go from Cyprus to Sydney via Doha, with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer saying it is committed to providing support to Australian passengers and ensuring their safe return home. Qantas is also operating two repatriation flights from Cyprus at the request of the federal government, with the request from the federal government for Qatar Airways for assistance coming as it assesses a possible investment in Virgin Australia by Qatar Airways.

CORPORATES
QATAR AIRWAYS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED

Doha views Qatar Airways flight block as national insult

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Original article by Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 2 : 27-Sep-23

Australian Qatar Business Council chairman Simon Harrison has appeared before a Senate hearing into the federal government’s decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request for more flights to Australia. He said the decision has caused "sensitivities" in the local Qatar business community. He added that Qatar regards it as a "national insult" that the decision has been linked to an incident in which Australian women were strip-searched at Doha airport in 2020. Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and CEO Vanessa Hudson will appear before the committee on Wednesday; former CEO Alan Joyce may be summonsed to appear when he returns from overseas.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN QATAR BUSINESS COUNCIL, QATAR AIRWAYS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN

Treasury, Trade not consulted on Qatar call

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Original article by Dennis Shanahan, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 4 : 13-Sep-23

The federal government continues to attract scrutiny over its decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request for additional flights to Australia. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Trade Minister Don Farrell have confirmed that their departments were not asked for advice from Transport Minister Catherine King regarding the request from Qatar Airways. King has stated that she had consulted "relevant ministers" before making the decision on 10 July. Shadow transport minister Bridget McKenzie has questioned why the Treasurer was not deemed to be a relevant minister. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have also stated that they were not consulted until after the decision had been made.

CORPORATES
QATAR AIRWAYS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

PM flies blind in Qatar storm

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Original article by Joe Kelly,Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 6-Sep-23

The Senate will hold an inquiry into the federal government’s decision to block Qatar Airways’ application for additional flights to Australia, which was made by Transport Minister Catherine King on 10 July. There have been allegations that the decision was aimed at protecting Qantas from competition. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament on Tuesday that he did not discuss the issue with outgoing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce before the decision was made. He conceded that he had discussed the application with Virgin Australia Jayne Hrdlick on 13 July, and stated that he had only been made aware of King’s decision on Tuesday. However, this had been widely reported on 18 July. Five women who are suing Qatar Airways for invasive physical searches were also told of the decision in a letter from King that was dated 10 July.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET,QATAR AIRWAYS,QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN,AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS