QANTAS/QATAR AIRWAYS: Senate Inquiry to hear from Bonza, Qantas, Qatar Airways, REX and Virgin Australia

Hearings have started in Canberra for the Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth Bilateral Air Service Agreements.

The first big revelation is that Qatar Airways heard of the rejection of the application for 28 flights into Australia in the media. A letter informing them of the rejection didn’t arrive until 4 days later.

You can download the program and submissions for today’s hearing here. You can view the proceedings online by heading over here.

Feature speakers include the CEOs of Qantas, Virgin Australia and Bonza, the deputy chair of REX, and two representatives of Qatar Airways.

Today’s Program for the Senate Inquiry

• 9.00 am Qatar Airways
  Mr Fathi Atti, Senior Vice President, Aeropolitical and Corporate Affairs
  Mr Matt Raos, Senior Vice President, Global Sales
• 10.30 am Australian Airports Association
  Mr James Goodwin, Chief Executive
  Mr Merrick Peisley, Head of Policy and Advocacy
• 11.00 am Bonza
  Mr Tim Jordan, Chief Executive Officer
• 12.30 pm Prof Allan Fels AO, University of Melbourne, via videoconference
• 1.00 pm Virgin Australia
  Ms Jayne Hrdlicka, Chief Executive Officer
  Mr Christian Bennett, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer
  Bain Capital
  Mr Ray Hass, Operating Partner
• 2.15 pm Prof Rod Sims AO, The Australian National University
• 3.00 pm Qantas
  Mr Richard Goyder AO, Chairman
  Ms Vanessa Hudson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
  Mr Andrew Finch, General Counsel and Group Executive
• 4.15 pm Business Chamber Queensland
  Ms Heidi Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, via videoconference
• 5.15 pm Rex Group
  The Hon John Sharp, Deputy Chairman, via videoconference

2PAXfly Takeout

Today’s Senate inquiry hearing has some interesting speakers, most notably representatives from all the airlines involved or with an interest in the outcome of the Qatar Airways application. The only parties invited, who are not appearing, and probably won’t appear at any hearing of the committee is Qantas ex-CEO Alan Joyce, and Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Bakar.