Airbus Cancels Qatar Airways Deal For Fourth A350

This is the latest development in Airbus and Qatar Airways’ long-running disagreement over the A350 aircraft. The gulf carrier believes that surface corrosion on A350 jets is a safety risk, but the European aircraft maker insists that the planes are safe.

Airbus and Qatar Airways are scheduled to appear in a London court today, 7 July 2022, for the next in a series of procedural hearings leading to a full trial in the summer of 2023.

Qatar Airways filed a lawsuit against Airbus in late 2021, asking for more than $600 million in compensation for fuselage surface deterioration on its A350s.

In retaliation, Airbus attempted to cancel a separate deal to deliver 50 A321neo aircraft ordered by Qatar Airways.

The judge found in favour of Airbus on 26 April 2022, enabling the plane manufacturer not to fulfil its contractual commitment to deliver a different order of A321neo jets to the airline. Airbus was also permitted to sell the A350s that Qatar Airways had refused after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) determined they were safe to operate.

The EASA stated in mid-June 2022 that it had found no indication that paint or surface deterioration on the A350 jets posed a safety risk. However, it also admitted that the aircraft contains quality issues observed in other carriers.

The High Court in London ordered on 26 May 2022 that the case be heard in summer 2023 under an expedited process.

Qatar Airways and Airbus welcomed the judicial procedure, though Qatar Airways appeared to be hoping for a compromise between the two sides.

“Every partnership has disagreements, and I only hope that this disagreement may be resolved outside of court,” Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar al-Baker said at a press conference in Doha on 26 May 2022.