AVIATION:
Middle East-based global airline Qatar Airways has secured approval from federal government authorities for extra flights into Australia.
Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, said he was very pleased at the outcome of his personal representations to the Albanese Government which had previously rejected the bid.
In a telephone interview with The Bug from his office in Qatar’s capital Doha, Mr Al-Baker (below) said after the government’s original decision against granting the extra flights he realised a new approach was needed and quickly formulated a revised bid.
The new bid involved an urgent application from a little-known recently registered Qatar Airways’ subsidiary carrier called Qantars. (main picture)
But, Mr Al-Baker said the urgent establishment of the new subsidiary airline was just one part of the plan.
Asked how he had managed to change the government’s mind he broke into a thick Irish accent.
“Oi just colled dee Proim Minuster and said Oi tink ya shood give Qantars soom of dem dare extra floits,” he explained.
Mr Al-Baker said he had also ensured that during the phone call to Anthony Albanese he had the Peter Allen song I Still Call Australia Home playing in the background.
Resuming his usual accent, Mr Al-Baker said: “I will now always be grateful to Peter Allen for that song.
“If he were still alive I’d invite him to Qatar to thank him, although there’s a risk if that happened he’d be arrested and stoned to death.”
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