Qantas clears the runway for Turkish Airlines flights

Turkish Airlines has an application before the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to fly into Melbourne and Sydney.

Qantas has not objected to the application, AAP understands, despite previously lobbying the Albanese government to block a request from Qatar Airways for extra services into Australia.

Transport Minister Catherine King rejected Qatar's application saying it was in the national interest, but she has faced strong criticism.

The Qatar issue is now the subject of a federal parliamentary inquiry, which was told on Tuesday that Qantas was one of the "most aggressive competitors" in the industry.

The airline would "aggressively respond" to a carrier encroaching on its routes or market share, former Qantas economist Tony Webber told the inquiry.

Sydney University professor Rico Merkert has estimated the cost to the economy as a result of Ms King's decision at more than $1 billion.

Qantas is also facing a potential $250 million fine from the consumer watchdog, which alleges the airline sold tickets on flights it had already cancelled.

New Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson had acknowledged her company's shortcomings, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said.

"Vanessa Hudson has rightly identified that Qantas has a lot of work to do now, to regain the trust of their customers and the country more broadly," he told the Walkley Foundation Business Awards event in Sydney on Wednesday.

"That needs to be their primary focus."

The carrier also recently lost a High Court appeal, which found it had illegally sacked almost 1700 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Qantas workers who were sacked are pursuing compensation and fines.

Justice Michael Lee made orders in the Federal Court on Wednesday to move the matter towards a resolution.

Ms Hudson will need to attend mediation, along with Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine, to discuss the compensation issue.

Australian Associated Press