Airbus scraps A350 contract with Qatar Airways in feud

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)