Airlines

Qatar Airways takes delivery of first Airbus A350 in years

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Qatar Airways has received the delivery of its first A350-1000 aircraft, following a high-profile legal battle with the European aircraft maker Airbus over a paint and surface fault that grounded dozens of the Doha-based carrier’s A350s.

According to FlightRadar24.com, the aircraft, registered A7-ANT, departed Toulouse at 21:29 and arrived at Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) at 04:21 on 13 May, increasing the carrier’s total A350 fleet to 54.

The A350 paint issue has been resolved, according to Airbus(Opens in a new browser tab)

Airbus tore up the order with Qatar Airways for its remaining 23 A350s at one point and was ready to find a new buyer, but the two parties eventually negotiated an “amicable” settlement in February after originally pursuing a high-risk multi-billion-dollar case in London’s High Court. It was quickly discovered that paint was cracking, bubbling, and peeling off areas of the fuselage, exposing a fine layer of mesh that served as protection against lightning strikes.

A long-term solution that addressed the underlying problem that Qatar Airways had demanded. Airbus tore up orders for both the remaining A350s and a sizable order for single-aisle A320 series aircraft, threatening to put Qatar Airways’ ambitious growth plans in danger.

Airbus scraps A350 contract with Qatar Airways in feud(Opens in a new browser tab)

In order to fill the gap with 737MAX aircraft, Qatar Airways had gone to Boeing, however, Airbus has since reversed the orders. The first of the airline’s 50 A321neo aircraft won’t now be delivered until 2026 as a result of the carrier having partially lost its position in a lengthy delivery queue.

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Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.