Qantas chairman Richard Goyder has announced his retirement, as public and political pressure mounts over the airline’s potential involvement in the federal government’s decision to block additional flights from Qatar Airways.
Richard Goyder will step down in late 2024 as part of a board renewal that the airline hopes will “support restoration of trust in the company”.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Qantas chairman Richard Goyder announces his retirement.
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Goyder said the board acknowledged the company’s “reputational and customer service issues” and admitted the airline had struggled to recover after COVID.
“Qantas has gone through an incredibly difficult period since our operation was grounded during the pandemic,” he said.
“The recovery has not been easy and mistakes were made. We again apologise for those times when we got it wrong.
“I have always sought to act in the best interests of Qantas.
“Fundamentally, the Group is in a very strong position to overcome its current challenges and deliver for all its stakeholders in the years ahead.”
News of Goyder’s departure comes a month after former CEO Alan Joyce’s shock decision to leave two months earlier than expected.
Several other board members will join Goyder and Joyce, with Michael L’Estrange to retire in November this year, and Jacqueline Hey and Maxine Brenner to retire in February 2024 after 10 years of service.
A Senate inquiry was held after the federal government in July decided to block extra Qatar Airways flights into Australia.
The airline wanted to add 21 weekly flights to the 28 it already operates between Europe and Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
The inquiry investigated the impact Qantas had in the government’s decision to deny extra flights.
On Monday, the coalition-dominated inquiry released its final report calling on Transport Minister Catherine King to “immediately” review the decision to block the Middle Eastern airline’s application for more flights.
King slammed the inquiry as a “political stunt” and indicated no intention to review the call.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the findings, with the chamber’s tourism executive chair John Hart saying 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 recommended the consumer watchdog play a bigger role in the travel sector and reinstate domestic airline monitoring.
It also recommended the inquiry be extended so Joyce, who is currently overseas, could answer questions about what involvement his company had in the decision.
– With AAP
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