The Australian government’s decision to block Qatar Airways’s request for extra flights to Australia was “very unfair”, the airline’s CEO Akbar al-Baker has told CNN in an interview.
“We found it to be very unfair [for] our legitimate request to be not granted, especially at a time when we were so supportive of Australia,” al-Baker said on Sunday, adding that he was “very surprised” at the decision.
“[We were] repatriating their stranded citizens from around the world to and out of Australia, helping them receive medical supplies and spare parts etc. during the COVID-19 period,” al-Baker said. “The national carrier and its partners completely stopped operating in Australia. We were there for the people of Australia.”
The Doha-based airline had requested to fly an extra 21 services into Australia’s major airports. But Australia’s Transport Minister Catherine King in July formally rejected its bid to add flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, saying the proposal was not in Australia’s interests.
During the pandemic, Qatar Airways flights to Australia continued, transporting as few as 20 people per flight, while flights from Qantas, Australia’s national airline, were grounded.
“I am always hopeful for the government to listen to our case very carefully and then make a decision,” the Qatar Airways CEO said, adding that it is difficult for him to comment as an Australian parliamentary inquiry was under way to look into the government decision on Qatar Airways.
Link from www.aljazeera.com