Australians could enjoy cheaper international flights and see local tourism boom if the government reverses its "incredibly disappointing" decision to block extra Qatar Airways flights, according to a leading business group.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the findings of a coalition-dominated inquiry on Monday that called on Transport Minister Catherine King to "immediately" review the decision to block Qatar's application for more flights.
But Ms King slammed the inquiry as a "political stunt".
The chamber's tourism executive chair John Hart said the group welcomed the federal inquiry's recommendations for greater transparency as the decision to limit flights hurt the travel market and "artificially inflated prices for consumers".
"The decision to deny the Qatar Airways application was incredibly disappointing for Australian tourism operators," he said.
"The effect of the government's decision was to turn off the tap for additional tourists who can visit Australia."
The inquiry investigated the impact Qantas had in the government's decision to deny extra flights.
It recommended the consumer watchdog play a bigger role in the travel sector and reinstate domestic airline monitoring.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie also renewed her call for former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to face more questions, recommending the inquiry be extended after he failed to appear while overseas.
"At a time of a cost-of-living crisis in Australia, the government has made decisions that have protected Qantas' market share and kept the cost of airfares higher for Australian families and exporters," she said.
Senator McKenzie said Ms King's seemed to point in one direction.
"It's a bit like Hansel and Gretel: all the crumbs of evidence lead to Albo and Alan and the very cosy political and personal relationship so we need to hear from Mr Joyce," she told Sky News.
The Greens' dissenting report agreed "Qantas enjoys a special relationship with the Australian government".
But Labor senators' dissenting report brushed off criticism, suggesting the inquiry's findings were "inaccurate" and lacked regard for the complexity of the issue.
Ms King said the coalition had tried to use the issue for political gain but it had not addressed concerns about consumer protections or expanded flights while in power.
"This was always and remains a political stunt from the coalition that did none of the things it is calling on the Albanese government to do," she said.
"It didn't give Qatar 28 extra flights a week and took four years to give an extra seven."
Ms King offered a number of different reasons for rejecting Qatar's request, including looking after the aviation sector as it recovers from COVID and reducing emissions.
An incident at Doha's international airport in 2020 where five Australian women underwent invasive gynaecological examinations was "a factor", she said.
In a letter sent to the women's lawyers on July 10, released to AAP under freedom of information rules, Ms King said she was shocked.
"The treatment that you received was disgraceful," she wrote.
"Your experience remains in my thoughts."
But the lack of a specific reason fuelled speculation about Qantas' impact on the call and Senator McKenzie said the government had "gagged" public servants and prevented the committee from investigating.
The coalition has indicated it will summon Mr Joyce to give evidence when he is back in the country, threatening to escalate things and even try to jail him if he doesn't comply.
Qatar Airways estimates the extra flights would add $3 billion in economic benefits to Australia.
