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In an unexpected move, the Australian Government has turned down the application by Qatar Airways to expand its operations, dashing the dreams of the high-profile airline to boost its Australian routes. The Doha-based airline had put forth a request to increase its weekly flights, a move that has been rejected, bringing to a sudden halt the airline’s expansion plans to Australia’s busiest airports and its Doha hub.

Qatar Airways’ ambitious request had proposed an additional 21 return flights per week to its current schedule of 28. However, the rejection places a significant roadblock in its plans to consolidate a stronger position in the Australian airline landscape.

Qatar Airways has shown a relentless commitment to its Australian operations throughout the pandemic, continuing most of its services to the region, even during the peak crisis periods. Its temporary routes, such as Doha-Brisbane-Auckland and Doha-Adelaide-Auckland, were particularly noticeable among these.

Qatar Airways currently runs multiple weekly flights connecting Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) with the major cities in five Australian states. These include Adelaide (ADL), Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (SYD), and Sydney (SYD). These cities constitute the most significant Australian gateways for the airline’s operations.

As part of the existing agreement with Australia, the airline can conduct 28 weekly round trips to the four largest Australian cities—Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. However, it also enjoys unlimited access to all other Australian ports. Leveraging this provision, Qatar Airways has attempted to cultivate extra markets through its connection to Adelaide and by using tag flights.

The peculiar phenomenon of Qatar Airways operating ‘ghost flights,’ routes with almost no passengers, such as DOH-MEL-ADL or DOH-SYD-CBR, can be traced back to the airline’s strategy to exploit the gaps in the agreement.

Interestingly, Australia seems to hold the upper hand in the negotiation tug-of-war. Australian carriers have shown little interest in operating in the Qatari capital, Doha. The Australian Government, known for its staunch support for its national carrier, Qantas, appears to protect its domestic aviation sector.

As reported by the Financial Review, “Qatar was understood to have had the support of state premiers keen to see more international tourists return. But another industry source said granting Qatar more landing rights would potentially destabilize the landscape as other airlines return to full capacity.”

In light of this, the Australian Transport Minister Catherine King confirmed recently that “the Australian government is not considering additional bilateral air rights with Qatar,” effectively blocking Qatar Airways’ expansion plans in Australia.

Despite the setback, Qatar Airways maintains a robust presence in Australia. The airline currently operates its Airbus A380 daily between Doha and Melbourne and Perth International Airports, while its Boeing 777 flights connect Doha with Brisbane and Melbourne International Airport. A secondary 777 service links Doha, Melbourne, and Adelaide, leveraging the existing agreement’s ‘other cities’ clause.

The Australian Government’s rejection of Qatar Airways’ expansion plans reveals the strategic protection of domestic airlines while carefully navigating international partnerships. As the global aviation industry moves towards recovery, the Australian Government’s decision is bound to have ripple effects across the global airline landscape.