Aviation

Airbus scraps A350 contract with Qatar Airways in feud

Airbus withdrew Qatar Airways’ outstanding order for Airbus A350 aircraft Wednesday, putting the two aviation titans in a rare battle over aircraft quality.

According to the Reuters reports Airbus withdrew Qatar Airways’ outstanding order for Airbus A350 aircraft Wednesday, putting the two aviation titans in a rare battle over aircraft quality. Qatar also went to a UK court to resolve the A350 aircraft paint problem.

Qatar Airways was the first buyer of the Airbus A350, which entered their fleet in 2015. Qatar Airways began complaining about paint flaking from the exterior of the airframe and fuselage two years ago. So Qatar suspended its entire A350 fleet and is suing Airbus for at least $1.4 billion after Qatar’s regulator grounded nearly half of its A350 fleet due to premature surface damage.

Airbus Cancels Deal With Qatar Airways for Fourth A350 -Sources(Opens in a new browser tab)

further Airbus accepted the Quality issue of the paint peeling from the surface but denied the Safety concern of the aircraft that Qatar Airways stated. Airbus, backed by European regulators, admitted quality issues on the planes but disputed any safety danger from gaps in the protective sub-layer, stating that there is adequate backup.

As the UK court updated, the case may be resolved in the next years based on all analysis acquired by technological expertise in proof of damages and claims.

According to the sources, who asked not to be identified since the conversations are private, Airbus has informed the airline that it will strike the remainder of the A350 transaction off its books.

Boeing received the most orders at the Farnborough airshows in 2022.(Opens in a new browser tab)

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.