SYDNEY: Australia’s government has cited the controversial strip searches conducted by Qatari authorities on five Australian women in Doha as a key consideration in their decision to deny Qatar Airways’ request for additional flights. Transport Minister Catherine King expressed her concerns during a press conference, emphasizing the invasive nature of the gynecological examinations that took place at Doha International Airport in 2020. These examinations were carried out as part of an investigation into the discovery of a newborn baby in an airport bathroom, leading to outrage and international scrutiny.
Minister King remarked, “Certainly, for context, this is the only airline that has something like that that has happened. And so I can’t say that, you know, I wasn’t aware of it, but, certainly, it wasn’t the only factor.” She clarified that while the strip searches played a role in her decision, they were not the sole determining factor, adding, “There was no one factor that influenced this decision.”
The minister also expressed her dismay at the ordeals faced by the five Australian women, stating, “The women’s experiences were pretty frankly, not anything we would expect anyone, and certainly not Australians travelling on an international airline, to experience.”
In June, legal representatives of the five women sent a letter to Minister King, asserting that Qatar Airways was “not fit to carry passengers around the globe, let alone to major Australian airports.” The women have initiated legal action against both Qatar Airways and the state-run Qatar Civil Aviation Authority in response to the strip searches.
Minister King formally rejected Qatar Airways’ proposal to increase flights to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in July, citing her belief that the expansion was not in Australia’s national interests.
The decision to block Qatar Airways’ expansion plans has generated controversy, with critics accusing Australia’s centre-left Labor government of prioritizing the profits of national carrier Qantas at the expense of consumers. The cost of flights between Australia and Europe has surged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some tickets priced at double their usual rates. Industry experts argue that increased competition, such as that offered by Qatar Airways, could help alleviate this issue.
Qantas has faced its share of criticism in recent times, including allegations that it sold approximately 8,000 tickets for flights it knew had been cancelled. In response to mounting criticism, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce retired two months earlier than originally planned.
As of the time of reporting, the Qatar embassy in Canberra has not issued a response to requests for comment on the matter.
