Qantas loses case over GST on missed flights

Australia's Administrative Appeals Tribunal ruled that the goods and services tax (GST) charged when Qantas' domestic passengers miss a service or cancel flights without receiving a fare refund, remains payable (Sydney Morning Herald, 09-Dec-2010). The tribunal heard that Qantas makes GST adjustments if it refunds fares after reservations are cancelled. But it wanted to retain the GST in cases "in which there has been either a cancellation or the passenger has simply failed to board the aircraft and a refund has not been made and probably not requested".