Aviation

Airbus Cancels Deal With Qatar Airways for Fourth A350 -Sources

Airbus scraps A350 contract with Qatar Airways in feud

As per source Airbus of Europe has raised the stakes in a dispute with Qatar Airways over damage to the painted surface of long-haul A350 jets by cancelling the contract for a fourth plane, according to three people familiar with the situation. The Gulf carrier claims there are unresolved airworthiness issues and is refusing to accept deliveries, while Airbus maintains that the aircraft are safe despite surface scars. The two firms are engaged in a dispute over this issue.

In May, a British judge rejected a bid by Qatar Airways to force Airbus to stop formally trying to deliver more A350s to the carrier, the aircraft’s largest customer.

As more aeroplanes are manufactured, Airbus may freely attempt to trigger payment clauses as a result of the procedural ruling. It may even try to market A350s that Qatar has refused to airlines like Air India, which industry insiders claim might act as a buyer.

By the end of July, a fifth aircraft should have reached the same position in the pipeline. A sixth aircraft will follow later this year.

Qatar Airways claims Airbus is incorrectly offering new planes for delivery, while Airbus claims the airline has broken its contract by refusing to take more A350s and is cancelling orders for undelivered planes one by one as they are built.

The two sides are scheduled to meet in a London court on Thursday for the latest in a series of procedural hearings ahead of a full trial, which is tentatively scheduled for June next year unless an out-of-court settlement is reached, which sources say appears unlikely so far.

Related Topics:a350 airbus Qatar airways

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.