Sydney welcomes Qatar Airways

Sydney Airport has welcomed the announcement by Qatar Airways that they will commence flying from Sydney later this year.
The CEO of Sydney Airport, Russell Balding, said that Qatar Airways was a world class quality airline and their launch of these new services is a great boost for Sydney and Australia’s tourism industry.
“Sydney Airport looks forward to working with Qatar Airways as they prepare for the introduction of flights into Sydney and plan for future growth.
 “I want to thank the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese, for his commitment to a more liberal international aviation market and for ending the discrimination against Sydney that was inherent in the previous air rights agreement with Qatar. 
“Allowing Qatar Airways to make a commercial decision about where to fly is sound public policy.  Bizarrely, the previous agreement prevented Qatar Airways from flying to Sydney until they had flown for more than 12 months from Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.
“Sydney Airport is willing to compete with other airports both in Australia and overseas.  But this competition should be on commercial grounds including the quality and cost of infrastructure.  Competition should not be about lobbying Government for regulatory settings that result in a commercial advantage over a competitor.
“The previous situation was without public benefit.  It was an old style political approach based on playing favourites. 
“I applaud Minister Albanese’s decision to end the discrimination against NSW and Sydney Airport.  This is an important economic reform that will benefit Sydney’s tourism industry as evidenced by Qatar Airways’ announcement.  
Sydney Airport is a major contributor to Sydney's economic growth.  This announcement is good news for all those people employed in the tourism, hospitality, transport and aviation related industries, Mr Balding said.
 

Source: Transportweekly