Qatar Airways and Airbus announced a “amicable and mutually accepted settlement” to a two-year-old dispute over the A350 aircraft, ahead of a court action scheduled to begin in the High Court in London in the coming months.
Airbus and Qatar airways
Europe’s Airbus has increased the stakes in a dispute with Qatar Airways over damage to the painted surface of long-haul A350 flights by rescinding the contract for a fourth aircraft.
On June 9th, an A350-1000 took off and completed its first flight at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France. The plane, painted in Qatar Airways livery, was indeed ordered by the Middle Eastern carrier. However, it’s uncertain if – and perhaps unlikely that – the airline will ever take delivery of this plane.
Qatar Airways and Airbus both racked up wins and losses in court this week. Both sides are now facing a major difficulty next summer to solve their dispute
In the UK court over the destiny of billions of dollars in aircraft orders, Qatar Airways and Airbus shattered their 25-year collaboration.
The carrier has raised concerns that the paint degradation could permit the ingress of pollutants, damaging the lightning mesh around the jet’s fuel tanks.