Qatar’s ghost flights – an open secret within the aviation sector – are “taking the piss” out of Australia’s strict aviation laws, industry sources say, and are occurring despite the Albanese government rejecting the airline’s formal request to increase flights out of concern the extra capacity would go against Australia’s “national interest”.

Honestly, I don’t blame Qatar Airways. Good on them for getting around this protectionist nonsense policy.

Air travel is already quite expense and carbon heavy. Actively blocking routes makes the system less efficient, expensive, and will emit more carbon. Isn’t that also against Australia’s “national interest”?