🛩️Qatar Airways operates a near-empty flight from Melbourne to Adelaide every morning.
📝Airlines need to fly routes regularly to maintain their legal rights to the routes.
✈️Qatar Airways has found a way to fly more planes to major airports without using up their slots.
🌐Countries have bilateral air agreements that determine the number of flights and passengers allowed.
💼Qatar Airways and Australia have limited flight agreements, causing the need for creative solutions.
Why does Qatar Airways operate an empty flight?
—Qatar Airways operates an almost empty flight to maintain their legal rights to the route between Melbourne and Adelaide.
How do airlines maintain their slots at airports?
—Airlines need to fly routes regularly to maintain their legal rights to the routes and retain their slots at airports.
Why can't Qatar Airways sell tickets to domestic passengers?
—Australia's aviation laws prevent Qatar Airways from selling tickets to domestic passengers.
How many flights is Qatar Airways allowed to operate to Australia's major airports?
—Qatar Airways is allowed to operate 28 flights a week to Australia's major airports.
What is a bilateral air agreement?
—A bilateral air agreement is a treaty between two countries that determines the number of flights and passengers allowed between them.
00:00Every morning, Qatar Airways operates an almost empty flight from Melbourne to Adelaide to maintain their legal rights to the route.
01:40Qatar Airways and Australia have limited flight agreements, which restrict the number of flights to major airports.
03:34Qatar Airways found a clever way to fly more planes to major airports without using up their slots.
04:29The flight from Doha to Adelaide actually has a layover in Melbourne, allowing Qatar Airways to circumvent the restrictions.
05:00The passengers on board the Melbourne to Adelaide leg are usually very few, and the flight turns back to Melbourne empty.
