Extra Qatar flights would have cut fares: inquiry told

Granting Qatar Airways extra flights into Australia would have delivered cheaper airfares and a $1 billion boost in tourism, an inquiry has been told.

More Qatar Airways flights would have led to "favourable effects", Airline Intelligence and Research chief executive Tony Webber said.

"There will be a material reduction in airfares ... somewhere between seven per cent and 10 per cent," he told a Senate select committee.

The former Qantas chief economist said there would have been an improvement in inbound tourism, largely from Europe, that could have been worth up to $1 billion.

"There is a material amount of market dominance from Qantas," Dr Webber said. 

A Senate inquiry examining the Albanese government's decision to knock back Qatar Airways bid held its first public hearing in Sydney on Tuesday.

Dr Webber described Australia's national carrier as an "exceptionally aggressive competitor".

"If a new carrier encroaches on its routes, on its market share, then it will aggressively respond," he said.

Representatives from Qatar Airways and Qantas were not listed to appear on Tuesday but have been invited to give evidence.

Transport Minister Catherine King has come under fire for her decision to reject Qatar Airways' bid to double the 28 weekly services it offers in Australia, after being lobbied by Qantas.

Critics say the move shields Qantas from competition, but Ms King has maintained the decision was made in the national interest.

Thirteen Australian women were detained at Doha's Hamad International Airport in October 2020, after a baby was found abandoned in a bin.

Qatari authorities were searching for the mother, before they pulled women off several flights at gunpoint, where they were led away and forced to undergo invasive examinations.

Marque Lawyers managing partner Michael Bradley, who is representing a group of the women, said Qatar Airways was dragging the case out and had made it a "torturous and expensive process".

"What happened to them was extraordinary and the airline has not answered for it," he said.

"The airline has never stepped up and clients have been forced to undertake complex and potentially very expensive litigation to try to enforce their rights and seek redress."

Mr Bradley said his clients want Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker to appear before the inquiry.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie said she was concerned the women were being used as a "front" for the decision to reject the extra flights.

Asked if Qatar's request should be allowed, Sydney Airport chief executive Geoff Culbert said there were "strong arguments for increasing" flights when services from the Middle East were down by a quarter.

Flight Centre boss Graham Turner said it was in the government's interest to review the decision, saying it would stay in people's minds.

Qantas has faced a recent storm of disasters, marked by a Senate grilling on its $2.47 billion profit during a cost-of-living crisis and a potential $250 million fine from the consumer watchdog.

The airline also lost a High Court appeal, which found it had illegally sacked almost 1700 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The committee will report back by October 9.