Overview

• The Full Federal Court unanimously overturned Justice Halley’s April 2024 summary dismissal and granted the women leave to proceed against Qatar Airways and airport operator MATAR.
• Judges ruled it remains arguable the invasive medical checks took place during the operations of embarking or disembarking flights and cannot be resolved without a trial.
• The court held it is plausible that the nurse who conducted the strip-searches was an agent of MATAR, preserving negligence and duty-of-care claims against the airport operator.
• The women’s appeal against the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority was dismissed on state-immunity grounds, and both Qatar Airways and MATAR were ordered to pay the appeal costs.
• The litigation—centering on airline liability under the Montreal Convention and protection of bodily autonomy—will return to the Federal Court for a full hearing.