The US and Qatar have reached a deal to resolve a years-old quarrel over alleged airline subsidies, seven individuals familiar with the deal said Monday, as Qatar's government works to defuse tensions with the Trump administration. The agreement will see state-owned Qatar Airways agree voluntarily to open up its accounting books, the individuals said. U.S. airlines say the company receives billions of dollars in government payments that leave them at a competitive disadvantage. Qatar will also make a loose commitment that the flag carrier won't launch flights to the United States from Europe or other non-Qatari cities, creating yet more competition for the US airlines. The individuals briefed on the agreement demanded anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss it ahead of a formal announcement, expected Tuesday when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meet with the visiting Qatari foreign and defense ministers. Both sides of the dispute can claim the agreement as a victory — for very different reasons. The US airline industry can claim the increased transparency will create a powerful disincentive to unfair subsidies, as Qatar will no longer be able to mask such payments through creative accounting. "Everybody gets to claim victory in this," said Helane Becker, an airline analyst for Cowen and Co. Indeed, even before any announcement, American praised the deal as a way to "thoughtfully address" Qatari subsidies. CEO Doug Parker called it a "landmark action" that would "help create a level and fair playing field for American Airlines and other US carriers."<br/>
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Qatar Airways inaugurated its first Pattaya flight, arriving at U-tapao airport on Monday. Pattaya marks the airline's fifth destination in Thailand and the first new route launch this year as the airline continues the rapid expansion of its global route network. "We are delighted to be the first Middle East airline to offer direct flights to Pattaya. Having also launched flights to Chiang Mai just last month and soon offering our sixth-daily flight to Bangkok, this new route reinforces the strong ties between Qatar and Thailand," said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways group CE. "U-tapao airport is a cornerstone of the Eastern Economic Corridor the Thai government is aggressively developing. These new direct flights will open up further seamless air connectivity for tourists and business visitors looking to visit Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard, boosting our tourism industry and also aiding in the development of foreign investments into U-tapao and Pattaya," said Rear Adm Luechai Sri-Eamgool, director of U-tapao Airport Authority.<br/>
The world's first US-Australia biofuel flight took off on Monday, with a Qantas Boeing 787 Dreamliner filled with 24,000 kilograms of mustard seed-based, blended fuel. The historic Qantas flight, QF96 from Los Angeles to Melbourne, is using biofuel extracted from a mustard seed Brassica carinata. The process has been developed by Canadian agricultural-technology company Agrisoma Biosciences. Qantas International CEO Alison Webster said it's fitting the Dreamliner is showcasing the future of sustainable aviation since the aircraft heralds a new era of innovation and travel. Across its life cycle, carinata-derived fuel offers more than 80% reduction in carbon emissions compared with traditional jet fuel. The blend used in the Dreamliner between LA and Melbourne on Monday will see a 7% drop in emissions along the route – with 10% of its tank filled with the mustard seed-derived biofuel. Story has more details.<br/>