Ghost Planes: A clever business strategy? Or a waste of time and resources?

Earlier this week, we read that the skies above Melbourne and Adelaide have ghost planes flying overhead every day. No, it’s not planes piloted by poltergeists, it’s just near-empty planes, operating every day. The Guardian has reported that Qatar Airways has been exploiting a legal loophole, operating these "ghost flights" to run extra services to Australia. These 354-seater Boeing 777s sometimes fly with no passengers at all, all to adhere to a complex bilateral agreement.But what does this mean for Australia's aviation laws, in this competitive landscape of international airlines? Today Sascha is joined by Elias Visontay from The Guardian to ask - why is the Australian government allowing this to continue, despite rejecting Qatar Airways' formal request to increase flights?Want more Equity Mates? Click here. In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of The Dive acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. *****This podcast is intended for education and entertainment purposes. Any advice is general advice only, and has not taken into account your personal financial circumstances, needs or objectives. Before acting on general advice, you should consider if it is relevant to your needs and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement. And if you are unsure, please speak to a financial professional. Equity Mates Media operates under Australian Financial Services Licence 540697.The Dive is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.