Qatar Airlines has taken a swipe at Qantas after they applied to double the number of current flights into Australia.
Akbar Al Baker said on Sky News the airline had been applying to the Australian authorities for a long time and continuously had their application blocked.
But he hopes the “Government realises the commitment of Qatar airlines at difficult times”.
Qatar submitted the application for more flights to Australian cities to the federal government last week and Qantas replied to a government request for feedback on the proposal.
Qantas is attempting to quash the submission, claiming it would be unfair and could risk Australian jobs.
What it means
This could mean big things for Qatar Airlines if their application is accepted. If approved, Qatar would operate 14 A350 aircraft on the Doha-Sydney-Doha route daily, as well as seven A380 aircraft per week on the Doha-Melbourne-Doha route.
This would essentially double their current flights into Australia and give them a much larger footprint in the country.
If Qatar is allowed to increase their number of flights, it could put even more downward pressure on Qantas’ already struggling business. In its response to the government’s request for feedback, Qantas stated that “allowing additional direct services from Qatar at this time would risk Australian jobs”.
It remains to be seen how this will all shake out, but it seems clear that there is a lot at stake for both airlines.
Ahron Young is an award winning journalist who has covered major news events around the world. Ahron is the Managing Editor and Founder of TICKER NEWS.
Artificial Intelligence has become an increasingly powerful and pervasive force in our modern world.
Artificial intelligence is not a new concept. However, the growing advancements have the potential to revolutionise industries, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of life.
Along with its promising advancements, artificial intelligence also brings certain risks and challenges that must be acknowledged and addressed.
It has become the focus of lawmakers, who are working towards greater regulation of the sector.
U.S. and European Union officials recently met in Sweden to weigh up the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
“The AI process is creeping up on us,” said Dr Keith Suter, who is a global futurist.
“You’ve got competition between companies.”
It’s almost like some of us can see this raft that’s heading towards the rapids and a disappearance towards the waterfall, and we’re giving a warning but it’s not being heeded because everybody’s in this race to get down to the river,” Dr Suter said.
A lie-flat seating concept in economy is making waves for the world’s best airline
One of the world’s premiere safety and product rating websites, AirlineRatings.com has announced its 2023 Airline of the Year.
Air New Zealand won the award for its exceptional achievements in in-flight innovations, which include the upcoming Skynest beds in the Economy cabin, its environmental leadership, and the dedication of its staff.
Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said the recognition acknowledges his remarkable team.
“We owe our success to the dedication and hard work of our 12,000 Air New Zealanders who wake each morning to connect Kiwis with each other and the world.
“This award belongs to them for their grit, commitment, and the exceptional service they deliver every day.”
Air New Zealand nudged out previous winner Qatar Airways (2021, 2022) Etihad Airways, Korean Air and Singapore Airlines for the top spot.
The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards are judged by five editors, who boast decades of industry experience.
Airlines are judged across 11 key criteria including fleet age, passenger reviews, profitability, investment, product offerings, and staff relations.
“It is a sign that we have got our swing back and that our relentless focus on doing the basics brilliantly and delivering our Kia Mau strategy with precision and ambition is working,” Mr Foran said.
However, he explained there are ares for improvement as the global travel sector recovers from the height of the pandemic.
“As with many airlines worldwide, we understand that our fantastic team faces difficulties in providing the service we strive for and that our customers expect. We’re working hard to address these challenges.”
Air New Zealand won Best Economy Class, while Qatar Airways picked up Best Business Class for the fourth-year running and Best Catering.
Singapore Airlines received the Best First Class award, while Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic won Best Cabin Crew.
Best-In-Flight Entertainment and Best Premium Economy went to Emirates, while Qantas was recognised for Best Lounges.
Geoffrey Thomas is the Editor-in-Chief at AirlineRatings.com, who said there was tough competition.
“In our objective analysis Air New Zealand came out number one in many key areas although it was a very close scoring for the top five.”
The awards also recognised the world’s Best Low-Cost Airlines.
Southwest Airlines won in the Americas category; while Fly Dubai (Middle East); AirAsia (Asia); Jetstar (Australia/Pacific) and Ryanair (Europe) all won in their respective regions.
Deepfakes are the online phenomenon changing the way in which we consume and trust social media
Have you ever scrolled through social media and found a celebrity selling something a bit left of centre?
Chances are you have fallen victim to a deepfake.
These images and videos are a type of artificial intelligence, which promises to create doctored videos, which are almost impossible to tell apart from the real thing.
They have typically been used in pornographic clips and for celebrity endorsements.