Qatar to agree to new financial disclosures for state owned-airline: US officials

Qatar is expected to agree Tuesday to release detailed financial information about its state-owned Qatar Airways, US State Department officials said late on Sunday, a move that follows pressure from U.S. airlines for it to disclose any potential subsidies it has received. Under an understanding to be announced Tuesday, Qatar Airways will issue audited financial reports within a year and within two years must disclose significant new transactions with state-owned enterprises, U.S. officials said. Qatar Airways and the Qatari government could not immediately be reached late Sunday. The largest US carriers - American Airlines, United Continental and Delta - since 2015 have urged the US government to challenge the conduct of three major Middle Eastern carriers under “Open Skies” agreements. The US airlines contend the Gulf carriers are being unfairly subsidized by their governments with more than $50b in subsidies over the last decade. Qatar, Etihad Airways and Emirates, have denied those accusations. The Gulf airlines operate around 200 flights per week to 12 US cities. Qatar and the US are expected to disclose details of the understanding on aviation issues at a US-Qatar strategic dialogue in Washington on Tuesday that will include US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis, along with senior Qatari officials, US State Department officials said. <br/>