Qatar Airlines being sued

[Troo believer]

Finally something regarding this matter will happen. Here’s hoping.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/qatar-sued-over-invasive-strip-searches-of-five-australian-women-20221022-p5bryy.html

[Al E. Vator]

Yes, that was disgusting.
Imagine travelling with your wife or daughter and the local authorities come on board and demand they be deplaned and subjected to that treatment.
Privacy was lacking as well, with some examinations being done in view of airport workers.

[Climb150]

What happened was terrible but their country their rules. Foreigners don't get an exemption. This is why some people avoid the middle east all together.

[tossbag]

What happened was terrible but their country their rules.

That's a bit out there bro. So there was a rule set published for this type of occurrence?

Something like:

"If we find a newborn baby anywhere in the terminal, all females shall be subject to an invasive procedure that will not guarantee any privacy or dignity, straight from the 7th century"

Something like that? So you can make an informed decision right? If you're male, I hope you're not married.

[Climb150]

It's the Middle East. They don't need a specific law to do whatever they want. Spend any amount of time in the region and you would know this.

When the prime ministers own daughter has to be tracked down and forced to return to Dubai, something is very wrong.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/princess-latifa-the-story-behind-tracking-down-a-missing-princess-12225379

[cLeArIcE]

People see the fancy advertisements and the shiny aircraft but the reality is that your travelling to a place that is a backwater **** hole still stuck in the middle ages. Don't travel with these airlines.

[C441]

A number of comments in the media article above suggest it was the Qatari government, not the airline, that conducted the 'searches'…..not that there is a great deal of difference and I'm sure those subjected to this treatment don't see a huge difference.

A question was asked but not answered. Was it only Qatar Airways pax that were subject to the procedure?

[Ascend Charlie]

Was it only Qatar Airways pax that were subject to the procedure?

Perhaps the toilet was in the Qatar area?

[krismiler]

The implied threat of banning QATAR Airways from Australian airspace (effectively NZ as well) should be enough to get the ladies the compensation they deserve. This shows that even if you're not visiting and are just passing through in transit you can still get caught up in their medieval system.

Hopefully the likely substantial award that the Australian courts will give should set a precedent for the affected ladies of other nationalities.

[Troo believer]

I thought I’d bring this back into the conversation since there’s been so much noise in the press lately about Qatar Airlines applying for more flights in and out of Australia. This would benefit whom?
Im glad to see it hasn’t been forgotten or forgiven.

[Icarus2001]

No doubt it was appalling behaviour by those instructed to perform the “inspection” by Qatari government officials. However how does an Australian court have any jurisdiction over a foreign sovereign state? I cannot see how they can possibly succeed. The Montreal convention refers to “death or bodily injury”, difficult to prove an injury was sustained.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

A number of comments in the media article above suggest it was the Qatari government, not the airline, that conducted the 'searches'…..not that there is a great deal of difference and I'm sure those subjected to this treatment don't see a huge difference.
However, there is a difference. If the Aus Govt is going to make a stand about this, then have the balls enough to say that Qatar is being refused extra landing rights because of the human rights violations of the Qatari Government. To me, Qatar Airways itself is entirely blameless. It wasn't the airline taking the passengers off the aircraft or conducting the searches. I doubt they even knew exactly what was going on at the time.
The Aus government did nothing at the time of the alleged assaults. Bit hard to grandstand now.......unless you need a convenient straw to clutch at.

[Troo believer]

However, there is a difference. If the Aus Govt is going to make a stand about this, then have the balls enough to say that Qatar is being refused extra landing rights because of the human rights violations of the Qatari Government. To me, Qatar Airways itself is entirely blameless. It wasn't the airline taking the passengers off the aircraft or conducting the searches. I doubt they even knew exactly what was going on at the time.
The Aus government did nothing at the time of the alleged assaults. Bit hard to grandstand now.......unless you need a convenient straw to clutch at.

Fully funded, owned and regulated by their government. What difference does it make? They don’t deserve extra rights.
None of the ME3 do actually. All subsidised and wholly supported by their governments distorting the economic foundations of international travel due to the nature of their geography and wealth. Hardly tourism hotspots.

[VHOED191006]

Fully funded, owned and regulated by their government. What difference does it make? They don’t deserve extra rights.
None of the ME3 do actually. All subsidised and wholly supported by their governments distorting the economic foundations of international travel due to the nature of their geography and wealth. Hardly tourism hotspots.
So? Most travellers don't care. All they want is to get to their European destination in an efficient manner with a cheap and fair airfare.

[Mr Mossberg]

Fully funded, owned and regulated by their government. What difference does it make? They don’t deserve extra rights.

Hold on there, they were Australia's national airline during covid. Spineless Qantas and federal govt sat back on their arses and watched Australian citizens returning on Qatar.

​​​​​​​It was an embarrassment returning to this country on another airline.

[romeocharlie]

Hold on there, they were Australia's national airline during covid. Spineless Qantas and federal govt sat back on their arses and watched Australian citizens returning on Qatar.

It was an embarrassment returning to this country on another airline.

Qantas committed to hundreds of repatriation flights during that period. The crews involved spent countless hours away from their families in hotel quarantine while State "leaders" made up the rules on a daily basis. Qatar (and other operators) weren't subject to the ridiculous rules and quarantine requirements in their home countries that we were. The only thing that's embarrassing is the fact that you supported an airline that thinks it's ok to assault women. The fact we're even discussing letting this airline make more money off Australians is beyond my comprehension.

[Chronic Snoozer]

Hold on there, they were Australia's national airline during covid. Spineless Qantas and federal govt sat back on their arses and watched Australian citizens returning on Qatar.

It was an embarrassment returning to this country on another airline.

I don't believe Qatar Airways flew most Aussies home. Whilst it's true for a short period Jul-Oct 20 the airline enjoyed the largest market share, ostensibly because other countries erred on the side of caution in the face of a biosecurity emergency, Singapore Airlines rapidly regained market share by Christmas 2020 and arguably deserves the title of airline carrying most Australians home during the pandemic. But that annoying fact never gets headlines.

[Poto]

Doha Airport was a hotspot of Covid spread during this period. No rules. Just the world mixing.

[Troo believer]

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/lawyer-for-women-strip-searched-in-qatar-urges-labor-to-give-airline-no-quarter-on-bid-20230908-p5e360.html

Quote from article
“Etihad and Emirates, which are the only other carriers that fly between Australia and Europe through the Middle East, are operating less than half the flights they are entitled to under their bilateral air service agreement with Australia.

Australia’s agreement with the United Arab Emirates stipulates that Emirates and Etihad may collectively operate 168 weekly services to Australia’s four biggest airports. They are only operating 70, which is just over 40 per cent of their total allotment.”

If this is correct then obviously it isn’t viable to operate anymore flights. The market just isn’t big enough. Why then does Qatar think it viable? They don’t and they don’t care because they don’t make money anyway but just want access at any cost. One could argue that competing with the other two airlines, Etihad and Emirates, is what they really want. Gouge out some market share no matter the cost and once again undermine those airlines like Qantas that compete with over 30 other airlines in the international market in and out of Australia.

[Colonel_Klink]

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/lawyer-for-women-strip-searched-in-qatar-urges-labor-to-give-airline-no-quarter-on-bid-20230908-p5e360.html

Quote from article
“Etihad and Emirates, which are the only other carriers that fly between Australia and Europe through the Middle East, are operating less than half the flights they are entitled to under their bilateral air service agreement with Australia.

Australia’s agreement with the United Arab Emirates stipulates that Emirates and Etihad may collectively operate 168 weekly services to Australia’s four biggest airports. They are only operating 70, which is just over 40 per cent of their total allotment.”

If this is correct then obviously it isn’t viable to operate anymore flights. The market just isn’t big enough. Why then does Qatar think it viable? They don’t and they don’t care because they don’t make money anyway but just want access at any cost. One could argue that competing with the other two airlines, Etihad and Emirates, is what they really want. Gouge out some market share no matter the cost and once again undermine those airlines like Qantas that compete with over 30 other airlines in the international market in and out of Australia.

I’d be highly surprised that Qatar operating more flights into and out of Australia would be loss making at the moment. I can only go off what I see at the international terminal - but the pax loads on those Qatar flights seem very strong.

I thought the issue for the like of Etihad and Emirates (more so EK than EY as EY is a shell of an airline that it once was) is access to airframes and that they simply don’t have the capacity to ramp up operations any further? Happy to be corrected on that though!

[PoppaJo]

Qatar are operating a ghost flight from Melbourne to Adelaide each day, it’s in their financial interest to lobby for more slots and axe that route with one new bilateral.

[Global Aviator]

The Covid debate on repatriation is a crock of ****.

QF operated repatriation charters which when you calculate the cost per seat, average out numbers, account for the empty sector, etc they ran at pretty good operating rates.

QR, EK, SQ all operated regular airline services hence the seat costs were eye watering, however all government owned airlines.

UA, not sure of which other US airlines operated, and this I don’t know but I think the had strategic government contracts.

QF didn’t fly until it didn’t cost them money to fly, say what ya like about government handouts.

QR to Australia for more flights = yes.

[Fonz121]

Qatari government seeking retribution by banning QF staff from J class interline travel.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Qantas committed to hundreds of repatriation flights during that period.

They may have committed to them, but they operated bugger all of them. Cancelled 9 times out of 10.
​​​​​​​you supported an airline that thinks it's ok to assault women.
Do they? I haven't seen anything that supports that statement.

[Mr Mossberg]

Qantas committed to hundreds of repatriation flights during that period. The crews involved spent countless hours away from their families in hotel quarantine while State "leaders" made up the rules on a daily basis. Qatar (and other operators) weren't subject to the ridiculous rules and quarantine requirements in their home countries that we were. The only thing that's embarrassing is the fact that you supported an airline that thinks it's ok to assault women. The fact we're even discussing letting this airline make more money off Australians is beyond my comprehension.

Hundreds?

The ridiculous rules bit, I referenced Qantas and the govt, point stands.

I supported an airlline that thinks it's ok to assault women? Did I? Where and when? And to my knowledge and reading Qatar airlines did no such thing, it was the airport authorities that did this.

Great reply though, well researched and thought out. :ok:

[romeocharlie]

Hundreds? Bull****.

The ridiculous rules bit, I referenced Qantas and the govt, point stands.

I supported an airlline that thinks it's ok to assault women? Did I? Where and when? And to my knowledge and reading Qatar airlines did no such thing, it was the airport authorities that did this.

Great reply though, well researched and thought out. :ok:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/21/australian-women-sue-qatar-airways-over-forced-examinations-at-doha-airport

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/07/catherine-king-says-treatment-of-women-was-a-factor-in-qatar-airways-decision

Can't imagine why women are suing Qatar if theres no correlation between them and the airport authorities. Same point stands with the current senate inquiry into blocking Qatar from operating more flights into Australia - I'm not sure why they'd be punitive towards the airline if they nothing to do with the incident in 2020.

Sorry there's no peer-reviewed, well-researched articles for you. Just a couple of news websites.

[C441]

They may have committed to them, but they operated bugger all of them. Cancelled 9 times out of 10.
Qantas operated 160 repatriation flights between March 2020 and September 2021. Additionally, they did many more IFAM freight flights, particularly with the 330. Just ask the 330 pilots (particularly S/Os) who spent long, continuous periods in quarantine both in Australia and in very ordinary overseas hotels, with very ordinary food and detention-like conditions.

Qatar, Singair and other airlines received massive support from their governments to cover what was a huge loss-making operation. Yes, Qantas received subsidies but to match the flights of those other airlines they would have needed substantially more or would simply have run out of money.

[Global Aviator]

Qantas operated 160 repatriation flights between March 2020 and September 2021. Additionally, they did many more freight flights, particularly with the 330. Just ask the 330 pilots (particularly S/Os) who spent long, continuous periods in quarantine both in Australia and in very ordinary overseas hotels, with very ordinary food and detention-like conditions.

Qatar, Singair and other airlines received massive support from their governments to cover what was a huge loss-making operation. Yes, Qantas received subsidies but to match the flights of those other airlines they would have needed substantially more or would simply have run out of money.

Charter flights with little financial exposure v airline ops with government support.

[Troo believer]

Qantas operated 160 repatriation flights between March 2020 and September 2021. Additionally, they did many more IFAM freight flights, particularly with the 330. Just ask the 330 pilots (particularly S/Os) who spent long, continuous periods in quarantine both in Australia and in very ordinary overseas hotels, with very ordinary food and detention-like conditions.

Qatar, Singair and other airlines received massive support from their governments to cover what was a huge loss-making operation. Yes, Qantas received subsidies but to match the flights of those other airlines they would have needed substantially more or would simply have run out of money.

Exactly.
And why would Australia, which is a very wealthy country, not use its national airline called Qantas to do those flights over some other airline with no affiliation with Australia other than landing here and shipping money they make offshore for good. Don’t forget that as an island nation a long way from most of the World we need a national airline with the capability that Qantas can deliver. You don’t think it’s not considered as part of our strategic defence capability then think again.

Many crew did very long periods of isolation and or quarantine both here or overseas. Some over a year I believe. It was a weird time that I personally never want to go through again. From being stood down, to doing currency in the sim in isolation, to being locked up overseas then to return and not being able to leave your home then back for another trip to then be denied entry and told you must quarantine in the **** hole called Howard Springs, it was unique insight into human nature and the overbearing hypocrisy of our governments both federal and state. No wonder no other airline did the repat flying. It would have been unworkable. Throw Border Force into the mix and what disgrace it was.

[Troo believer]

Women strip searched at Qatari airport fear similar incident could happen againWomen strip searched at Qatari airport fear similar incident could happen againBy political reporter Stephanie Borys (https://www.abc.net.au/news/stephanie-borys/8477096)
Posted 6h ago6 hours ago, updated 4h ago4 hours agohttps://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/8a1b6fbd37b5a54fa46d379666f1418c?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1589&cropW=2824&xPos=0&yPos=196&width=862&height=485A parliamentary committee was formed after the government blocked Qatar's bid for extra flights into Australia.(AAP: Richard Wainwright)The lawyer representing Australian women subjected to invasive body searches at Doha airport say they're worried there is an ongoing risk to women flying Qatar Airways.
Key points:

A parliamentary committee is investigating the government's refusal of extra flights for Qatar
The government has said a factor of that decision was a 2020 incident when five Australian women were forced to undergo invasive body scans
The lawyer representing the women says they are concerned a similar incident could happen again

Get Breaking News, and Politicsnotifications to stay up to dateENABLEIn October 2020, women onboard a flight bound for Australia were removed from the plane and forced to undergo examinations without explanation or consent after a newborn baby was found abandoned (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-26/qatar-airport-baby-women-invasive-search/12812364).

Five of those women have commenced legal proceedings against Qatar Airways, the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority and MATAR, a Qatar Airways subsidiary.

"Given the response from the airline to our clients' concerns and their experiences, they certainly strongly remain of the view that risk is continuing," said Michael Bradley, the lawyer representing the women.

The incident is back in the spotlight this week, as a parliamentary committee examines the government's decision to block a Qatar Airways request to increase its flights into major Australian airports.

Transport Minister Catherine King has repeatedly stated the decision was based in the national interest but has so far refused to outline what those reasons are (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-07/transport-minister-strip-search-context-in-qatar-rejection/102824850).

Appearing before the committee today, Mr Bradley said his clients were in favour of the decision.

In July, they wrote to Ms King urging her to take the incident into account when making her final call (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-06/catherine-king-rejected-qatar-airway-strip-search-letter/102822744).

Mr Bradley also said his clients were concerned that a similar incident could occur again and there was a risk to women if they flew Qatar Airways.
https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/77f33206ac8c72824e5a68a76637b5ae?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=3332&cropW=4998&xPos=1&yPos=0&width=862&height=575Catherine King has faced criticism for her decision to block Qatar sending additional flights to Australia. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)Mr Bradley said his clients had not received an adequate response or apology for what had occurred.

"There was no meaningful response [from the airline], they refused to engage at all and that has continued," he said.

"Their posture remains defensive and aggressively so."

Previously, Qatar Airways has denied responsibility for the incident.

"We recognise the distress and concern the litigants experienced," a statement issued by the airline stated in February.

"The events in question formed part of a criminal investigation by the Qatari Police which the airline had no control over."

Ms King has previously stated that the October 2020 incident was a factor in her decision to block Qatar's request.

Call for review of Qatar decisionThe committee sought views from the Australian Travel Industry Association, Flight Centre, Sydney Airport and Airport Coordination Australia about the government's decision to block additional Qatar flights.

Flight Centre's managing director and chief executive Graham Turner said he thought it was in the "national interest" for the government to reverse its decision.

"I think until they review it and hopefully change it, this is not going to go away," he told the committee.

"Airfares are going to stay high for at least the rest of this year and probably well into next year and significantly due to the demand and capacity not being back on certain routes.

"I think it really does need a review."

Mr Culbert agreed a review should be conducted.

"I think it is important that you never provide static analysis to a dynamic situation," he said.

The Qatar decision has also raised questions about whether changes are needed to slot management and bilateral air service agreements.

Mr Culbert said bilateral air service agreements needed to be examined.

He pointed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) having 168 flights per week and not using them all, while Qatar had 28 and wanted more.

"At Sydney airport, we are only 75 per cent recovered on the Middle East market compared to pre-COVID, we have an airline that wants to add new services but they can’t because the bilateral is full," Mr Culbert said.

"At the same time we have 84 flights a week from the UAE that aren't being used at all.

"That is just inefficient."

Qantas and Qatar have confirmed that they will send representatives to appear before the inquiry next week

[ozbiggles]

[QUOTE=Troo believer;11500570]Exactly.
And why would Australia, which is a very wealthy country, not use its national airline called Qantas to do those flights over some other airline with no affiliation with Australia other than landing here and shipping money they make offshore for good. Don’t forget that as an island nation a long way from most of the World we need a national airline with the capability that Qantas can deliver. You don’t think it’s not considered as part of our strategic defence capability then think again.

Shipping money offshore for no good? I guess that is what Joyce will be doing soon too. Qantas (or any other airline) didn’t do any of that stuff for free. They all get money for it from somewhere.

I’m pretty sure if an Australian airline crew try to prevent the AFP from extracting passengers from an aircraft there would be a few issue too. What happened to those women was not right, but I’m not sure the Airline had any part in it

[Troo believer]

https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/how-dare-we-australian-woman-says-gender-part-of-reason-why-qatar-airways-won-t-apologise-20231128-p5en87.html?btis

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

One of the women forcibly strip-searched at Doha Airport says she believes gender is partly behind Qatar Airways’ refusal to apologise
No sh*t Sherlock.

[TBM-Legend]

Why should Qatar Airways apologise when they didn’t do the security. It’s done by an airport contractor

[cLeArIcE]

We all love the cabins, the service and all the shiny pictures on the brochures but, if you are going to fly on airlines from this sh*thole part of the world there is risk that you take.

[megan]

Why should Qatar Airways apologise when they didn’t do the security. It’s done by an airport contractorBoth the airline and airport are owned lock, stock and barrel by the government and the airline is the operator of the airport, as the airline is the airport operator any thing that occurs on its grounds is down to the airline IMHO.

[krismiler]

QATAR Airways needs Australia more than Australia needs them. Ban them from Australian airspace until there is a proper apology from the Qatari government to all the women involved and punitive compensation is paid. A big blank area in their route network will negate any claims of being a world airline.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

QATAR Airways needs Australia more than Australia needs them.
Now that made me laugh.
Destinations served by Qatar from Doha:
Abidjan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9lix-Houphou%C3%ABt-Boigny_International_Airport), Abu Dhabi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi_International_Airport), Abuja (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nnamdi_Azikiwe_International_Airport), Accra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotoka_International_Airport), Adana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adana_%C5%9Eakirpa%C5%9Fa_Airport), Adelaide (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Airport), Addis Ababa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa_Bole_International_Airport), Ahmedabad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardar_Vallabhbhai_Patel_International_Airport), Alexandria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg_El_Arab_Airport), Algiers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houari_Boumediene_Airport), Almaty (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almaty_International_Airport), Al Ula (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Abdul_Majeed_bin_Abdulaziz_International_Airport),[58] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-58) Amman–Queen Alia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Alia_International_Airport), Amritsar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Guru_Ram_Dass_Jee_International_Airport), Amsterdam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Airport_Schiphol), Ankara (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esenbo%C4%9Fa_International_Airport), Athens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_International_Airport), Atlanta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartsfield%E2%80%93Jackson_Atlanta_International_Airport), Auckland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_Airport), Baghdad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_International_Airport), Bahrain (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain_International_Airport),[48] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-Bahrain_Resumption-48) Baku (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heydar_Aliyev_International_Airport), Bangalore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempegowda_International_Airport), Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suvarnabhumi_Airport), Barcelona (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep_Tarradellas_Barcelona%E2%80%93El_Prat_Airport), Basra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra_International_Airport), Beijing–Daxing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Daxing_International_Airport),[59] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-59) Beirut (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beirut%E2%80%93Rafic_Hariri_International_Airport), Belgrade (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgrade_Nikola_Tesla_Airport), Berlin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport), Birmingham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Airport),[60] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-60) Boston (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_International_Airport), Brisbane (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Airport), Brussels (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport), Bucharest–Otopeni (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Coand%C4%83_International_Airport), Budapest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Ferenc_Liszt_International_Airport), Cairo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_International_Airport), Cape Town (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town_International_Airport), Casablanca (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_V_International_Airport), Cebu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mactan%E2%80%93Cebu_International_Airport), Chengdu–Tianfu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_Tianfu_International_Airport),[61] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-China-61) Chennai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chennai_International_Airport), Chicago–O'Hare (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Hare_International_Airport), Chittagong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Amanat_International_Airport) (begins 11 March 2024),[62] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-auto-62) Chongqing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongqing_Jiangbei_International_Airport),[61] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-China-61) Clark (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_International_Airport), Colombo–Bandaranaike (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandaranaike_International_Airport), Copenhagen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Airport), Dallas/Fort Worth (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas/Fort_Worth_International_Airport), Dammam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Fahd_International_Airport), Dar es Salaam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nyerere_International_Airport), Davao (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Bangoy_International_Airport), Delhi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi_International_Airport), Denpasar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngurah_Rai_International_Airport), Dhaka (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazrat_Shahjalal_International_Airport), Djibouti (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djibouti-Ambouli_International_Airport), Dubai–International (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_International_Airport), Dublin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Airport), Durban (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Shaka_International_Airport), Düsseldorf (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCsseldorf_Airport),[63] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-63) Edinburgh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Airport), Entebbe (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entebbe_International_Airport), Erbil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erbil_International_Airport), Faisalabad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisalabad_International_Airport), Frankfurt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_Airport), Gassim (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Naif_bin_Abdulaziz_International_Airport),[64] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-64) Geneva (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Airport), Goa–Dabolim (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabolim_Airport), Guangzhou (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou_Baiyun_International_Airport), Hangzhou (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangzhou_Xiaoshan_International_Airport), Hanoi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noi_Bai_International_Airport), Harare (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gabriel_Mugabe_International_Airport), Ho Chi Minh City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Son_Nhat_International_Airport), Hong Kong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_International_Airport), Houston–Intercontinental (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bush_Intercontinental_Airport), Hyderabad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajiv_Gandhi_International_Airport), Isfahan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan_International_Airport), Islamabad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad_International_Airport), Istanbul (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Airport), Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul_Sabiha_G%C3%B6k%C3%A7en_International_Airport), Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soekarno%E2%80%93Hatta_International_Airport), Jeddah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Abdulaziz_International_Airport), Johannesburg–O.R. Tambo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._R._Tambo_International_Airport), Kano (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallam_Aminu_Kano_International_Airport),[65] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-65) Karachi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinnah_International_Airport), Kathmandu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribhuvan_International_Airport), Khartoum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khartoum_International_Airport), Kilimanjaro (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilimanjaro_International_Airport), Kochi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin_International_Airport), Kolkata (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netaji_Subhas_Chandra_Bose_International_Airport), Kozhikode (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calicut_International_Airport), Kuala Lumpur–International (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Lumpur_International_Airport), Kuwait City (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_International_Airport), Lagos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murtala_Muhammed_International_Airport), Lahore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allama_Iqbal_International_Airport), Larnaca (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larnaca_International_Airport), London–Gatwick (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatwick_Airport), London–Heathrow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Airport), Los Angeles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_International_Airport), Luanda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatro_de_Fevereiro_Airport), Lusaka (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Kaunda_International_Airport), Lyon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon%E2%80%93Saint-Exup%C3%A9ry_Airport), Madrid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Su%C3%A1rez_Madrid%E2%80%93Barajas_Airport), Mahé (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seychelles_International_Airport), Malé (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velana_International_Airport), Manchester (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Airport), Manila (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninoy_Aquino_International_Airport), Maputo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maputo_International_Airport), Marrakesh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrakesh_Menara_Airport) (resumes 1 April 2024),[66] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-66) Mashhad (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad_International_Airport), Medan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuala_Namu_International_Airport) (begins 15 January 2024),[62] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-auto-62) Medina (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Mohammad_Bin_Abdulaziz_Airport), Melbourne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Airport), Miami (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_International_Airport), Milan–Malpensa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Malpensa_Airport), Mogadishu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Adde_International_Airport), Montréal–Trudeau (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al%E2%80%93Pierre_Elliott_Trudeau_International_A irport), Moscow–Sheremetyevo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheremetyevo_International_Airport), Multan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multan_International_Airport), Mumbai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhatrapati_Shivaji_Maharaj_International_Airport), Munich (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Airport), Muscat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscat_International_Airport), Nagpur (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Babasaheb_Ambedkar_International_Airport), Nairobi–Jomo Kenyatta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jomo_Kenyatta_International_Airport), Najaf (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Najaf_International_Airport), Neom Bay (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neom_Bay_Airport) (begins 9 December 2023),[67] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-67) New York–JFK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_International_Airport), Nice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nice_C%C3%B4te_d%27Azur_Airport),[62] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-auto-62) Osaka–Kansai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansai_International_Airport) (resumes 1 March 2024),[62] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-auto-62) Oslo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Airport,_Gardermoen), Paris–Charles de Gaulle (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle_Airport), Penang (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penang_International_Airport),[68] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-68) Perth (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_Airport), Peshawar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacha_Khan_International_Airport), Phnom Penh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phnom_Penh_International_Airport), Phuket (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket_International_Airport), Port Harcourt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Harcourt_Airport), Prague (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Havel_Airport_Prague), Ras Al Khaimah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Al_Khaimah_International_Airport),[62] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-auto-62) Riyadh (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Khalid_International_Airport), Rome–Fiumicino (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci%E2%80%93Fiumicino_Airport), Salalah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salalah_International_Airport), San Francisco (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_International_Airport), São Paulo–Guarulhos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo/Guarulhos_International_Airport), Seattle/Tacoma (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle%E2%80%93Tacoma_International_Airport), Seoul–Incheon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon_International_Airport), Shanghai–Pudong (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Pudong_International_Airport),[69] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-69) Sharjah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharjah_International_Airport), Shiraz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiraz_International_Airport), Sialkot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sialkot_International_Airport), Singapore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Changi_Airport), Sofia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Airport), Sohar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohar_Airport), Stockholm–Arlanda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Arlanda_Airport), Sulaymaniah (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulaimaniyah_International_Airport), Sydney (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Airport), Tabuk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabuk_Regional_Airport) (begins 14 December 2023),[70] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-70) Ta'if (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taif_International_Airport), Tbilisi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tbilisi_International_Airport),[71] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-71) Tehran–Imam Khomeini (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Imam_Khomeini_International_Airport), Thiruvananthapuram (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruvananthapuram_International_Airport), Tokyo–Haneda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haneda_Airport),[72] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-72) Tokyo–Narita (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narita_International_Airport), Toulouse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulouse-Blagnac_Airport),[73] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-73) Trabzon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabzon_Airport),[62] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-auto-62) Tunis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunis%E2%80%93Carthage_International_Airport), Venice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Marco_Polo_Airport) (resumes 31 March 2024),[74] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-NS23-74) Vienna (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_International_Airport), Warsaw–Chopin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Chopin_Airport), Washington–Dulles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Dulles_International_Airport), Yanbu (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanbu_Airport),[75] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamad_International_Airport#cite_note-75) Yerevan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvartnots_International_Airport), Zagreb (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagreb_Airport), Zanzibar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abeid_Amani_Karume_International_Airport), Zürich (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C3%BCrich_Airport)
Seasonal: Antalya (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya_Airport), Bodrum (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milas%E2%80%93Bodrum_Airport), Málaga (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1laga_Airport), Mykonos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykonos_Airport), Sarajevo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarajevo_International_Airport), Windhoek–Hosea Kutako (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea_Kutako_International_Airport)
Try catching a flight to most of them on Australia's "world" airline.
Australians need airlines like Qatar.

[krismiler]

Australians need airlines like Qatar.

True, but they don't necessarily need QATAR Airways itself. Emirates, SQ, CX, BA etc can easily fill the gap left, not to mention all the code share flights available on multiple airlines within the three alliances. Closing Australian airspace to QR effectively shuts New Zealand out as well. After the recent boycott they suffered from their Middle Eastern neighbours they certainly don't need another one.

​​​​​​​Time to apologise and pay up.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

But the Qataries did apologise, almost immediately. The women want the Airline to apologise and pay up. The Airline did nothing wrong. They should be suing the Airport, not the Airline, but they aren't game enough to take on the Qatar state. The Airline is a much softer target.
Both the airline and airport are owned lock, stock and barrel by the government and the airline is the operator of the airport, as the airline is the airport operator any thing that occurs on its grounds is down to the airline IMHO.
Or more correctly, if as you say the government is the owner of both, then anything that happens while traveling on their aircraft or in their airport is their responsibility. But that's too hard.

[BuzzBox]

The women want the Airline to apologise and pay up. The Airline did nothing wrong. They should be suing the Airport, not the Airline, but they aren't game enough to take on the Qatar state. The Airline is a much softer target.

As I understand it, the women are suing the Qatar Airways GROUP and the Qatar CAA. The Qatar Airways Group companies include Qatar Airways (the airline) and Matar, which operates Hamad International Airport.

[Pinky the pilot]

I notice that there was a fairly large Qatar Airlines advert in yesterday's (?) Australian Newspaper.:hmm: