Peter Dutton says Labor has no ‘coherent reason’ for blocking additional Qatar Airways flights

Opposition leader tells Today show the price of flights is ‘astronomical’ and competition with Qantas would bring downward pressure on prices

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Peter Dutton has called into question the federal government’s decision to block Qatar Airways offering additional flights, saying he has yet to hear a “coherent reason”.

The Albanese government has in recent weeks defended its decision to reject a request from Qatar to fly an additional 21 services into Australia’s major airports, beyond the 28 flights a week it currently operates under existing bilateral air rights.

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