Under-fire Qantas chair defies calls to stand down at Senate inquiry

Under-siege Qantas chairman Richard Goyder has once again maintained he is the right man for the job as he told a Senate inquiry the airline's decision to illegally sack almost 1700 workers was based on "sound" reasoning.

The inquiry into Australia's airline industry is focusing on the decision by the federal government in July to reject Qatar Airways' application to fly 28 extra flights to the east coast every week.

However, much of the questioning of Goyder and new CEO Vanessa Hudson focused on a wide range of issues, including the chairman's tenure, accusations of slot hoarding at major airports, and the company's refusal to pay back $900 million in JobKeeper payments despite posting a $2.5 billion profit this year.

Goyder was urged to resign by both the Australian Shareholders Association and Qantas pilots yesterday after chairing the company's board during its recent slide in the eyes of the public.

But he defended his position to the Senate committee, brushing away questions over his judgement and ability to adequately manage his three chairmanships at Qantas, Woodside and the AFL Commission.

"I've navigated the company through the global financial crisis, chaired Qantas through the most existential crisis we've ever had as an airline," he said.

"And right now, the major shareholders and the board feel that I'm the best person to chair the board to navigate us through the current situation we've got."

He also claimed the carrier's decision to illegally sack almost 1700 workers in 2020 was based on sound reasoning.

"Well, the reality was we did have sound commercial reasons and I do apologise and deeply regret the circumstances," Goyder told Tony Sheldon, the Labor senator who called for the chairman to resign following former CEO Alan Joyce's departure.

New CEO Hudson had begun Qantas' appearance at the hearing by once again apologising to customers.

She also admitted, under questioning from independent senator David Pocock, that Qantas had discussed following the lead of other companies and returning the $900 million in taxpayer-funded JobKeeper payments it received during the pandemic, but had decided against it.

Hudson did agree to provide details about the airline's submission to the government about Qatar's proposal for extra flights, but only on the condition it would be redacted and remain confidential – meaning the public won't get to view it.

However, she refused to be drawn on whether Qantas still opposed the proposal, after saying the commercial conditions brought about by the pandemic were behind its opposition last year.

Earlier in the day, Qatar Airways executives told the airline inquiry they were "shocked and surprised" at the federal government's decision to block their application.

The opposition claims the government rejected Qatar's bid after lobbying from Qantas, which didn't want to face greater competition.

Qatar Airways told the inquiry it found out through the media before receiving official notice several days later.

"Even more surprising, was that the government gave us no reason for rejecting our application," senior vice-president of global sales Matt Raos said.

"We really can't understand why.

"We currently generate $3 billion of economic benefits to Australia.

"We create well-paying Australian jobs, support Australian travel agents, support Australian tourism and support exporters."

The executives said they were disappointed as the airline helped out in times of need, including bringing home stranded Australians during the pandemic.

The airline was asked whether the government ever raised the incident at Doha Airport, where Australian women were strip-searched, but the executives said the issue was not raised with them.

Former Qantas CEO Joyce won't be addressing the inquiry because he's overseas.

The inquiry will attempt to force Joyce to attend by summonsing him to appear when he arrives back in Australia.