Qantas CEO Steps Down After An Investigation Was Launched Into Why Australia Blocked Qatar Airways Flights

Due to growing criticism and allegations of lobbying, Qantas Airways’ longtime CEO Alan Joyce will leave the airline two months earlier than anticipated.

The Australian government is under fire for blocking 21 extra weekly flights operated by Qatar Airways

On Wednesday, Vanessa Hudson, who will be the first woman to run the century-old airline, will take his place.

On Tuesday, a senate vote requesting an investigation into the government’s decision to deny more Qatar Airways flights to Australia was approved despite mounting requests for the decision to be reversed.

Australia’s government is still under severe criticism for rejecting a bid from Qatar Airways for 21 additional weekly flights to airports throughout the nation, including Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

In light of Qantas’ allegedly lobbying activities, representatives from the government, the tourism industry, and business organisations are calling for greater transparency regarding the factors that led to the decision to deny new flights to Qatar.

Following a Monday apology from Qantas for not upholding typical service standards and acknowledging the damage to its reputation, Joyce’s departure was accelerated.

It comes just after the business announced record yearly earnings because of strong travel demand.

The airline was sued last week by Australia’s competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), on the grounds that it had sold tickets for more than 8,000 cancelled flights that were due to take place between May and July 2022 without revealing this information.

The government has stated that there was nothing unusual about its decision to decline Qatar’s request

Politicians and the general public criticised the airline for first allowing approximately $323.00 million in flight credits from the epidemic era to expire before the end of the year.

Shortly after the regulator filed its case, they changed their minds.

Other Qantas incidents, such as the company’s decision to give Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s son access to a first-class airport lounge, have also generated headlines and contributed to the airline’s decline into disrepute.