Qantas an aggressive player with ‘strong presence’ in Canberra, Senate inquiry told

Sydney airport chief Geoff Culbert told senators Qantas was one of its toughest counterparties during negotiations. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Qantas has been accused of being an aggressive industry player with a “strong presence” in Canberra, amid allegations it is muscling out its competitors by strategically scheduling and then cancelling economically unviable flights.

A Senate inquiry is scrutinising how the airline industry operates, and the federal government’s role in it, after a decision by the transport minister, Catherine King, to deny Qatar Airways running an additional 28 services to major cities.