Qantas revokes second no-fly ban

Two people who walked off a Qantas flight targeted by an asylum seeker protest are free to fly again, after the airline lifted their no-fly bans.

Qantas has revoked both no-fly orders it issued after two passengers walked off a flight targeted by an asylum seeker protest.

Paul Leary, a 53-year-old business traveller, and a female colleague exited the plane soon after boarding, at Melbourne airport, on February 2.

Both were later informed they were barred from Qantas and Jetstar planes, but the airline revoked Mr Leary's ban on March 11.

His colleague received an email from Qantas on Sunday, telling her she was free to fly again.

"My colleague and I have been amazed by the level of support we have received and it also shows the level of community support for a change in the government's treatment of asylum seekers," Mr Leary said in a statement.

The flight was carrying a man being relocated between detention facilities, and an asylum seeker protester had also boarded the flight and would not sit down.

When Mr Leary was un-banned, Qantas said it was standard procedure for people who exit a flight in such circumstances to be placed on a no-fly list while Australian Federal Police investigate.


1 min read

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Updated

Source: AAP


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