More Qatar flights would reduce international airfares: Virgin CEO

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka has weighed in on the ongoing dispute about Qatar Airways’ air rights, saying allowing the carrier to put on more flights would drive airfares down. According to Hrdlicka, international airfares are currently 50% higher than they were pre-pandemic, and increasing aviation capacity between Australia and other key regions will help bring down cost of living pressures. “Additional Qatar flights would have an immediate and tangible effect in reducing airfares between Australia and Europe, the Middle East and Africa,” said Hrdlicka in a statement. “Qatar is in the unique position in the context of a constrained global supply of widebody aircraft, to be able to quickly make available 4 additional services per day to Australia. This would deliver much needed and immediate benefit to the Australian tourism industry and cost-of-living relief to the Australian travelling public, including our own customers.”<br/>