Qatar and the USA

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson has confirmed that the US and Qatar have reached “understandings on civil aviation” aimed at addressing the concerns of US major airlines about alleged subsidies to Gulf carriers.

Tillerson, appearing at the State Department in Washington DC along with representatives of a Qatari government delegation visiting the US for high-level talks, said US President Donald Trump “has made this matter a priority and the outcome we achieved will ensure a level playing field in the global aviation market.”

The Qatari government has committed that state-owned Qatar Airways will release an audited financial statement within a year and will be more transparent regarding transactions, particularly transactions with other Qatar-owned entities. The Qatari government has also made an assurance to the US that there are no current plans for Qatar Airways to operate fifth freedom flights to the US, although there is no guarantee the carrier will not do so in the future.

Fifth freedom flights are allowed under the US-Qatar Open Skies agreement, and one result of the “understandings” reached between the two countries is that the US will not seek to reopen the Open Skies accord for negotiations.

The agreement was praised by both the CEOs of Delta and United Airlines.  There is no indication the US and the UAE have reached a similar agreement.

www.state.gov

www.qatarairways.com

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