Qatar Airways Vs AirBus

 Qatar Airways Vs AirBus

Qatar Airways grounded Airbus A350s over what it described as fuselages “degrading at an accelerated rate” in the long-range aircraft. In December 2021, Qatar’s national carrier announced it was suing Airbus in London over what it described as the “accelerated surface degradation” of the wide-body A350. Cracks in the painted surface exposed gaps in a sublayer of A350 lightning protection, prompting its regulator to ground 29 of the jets. Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, has acknowledged quality flaws but insisted the jets are safe.

The next month, Airbus terminated a multibillion-dollar order by Qatar Airways for 50 of its smaller single-aisle in-demand A321neo jets. The termination of the Airbus contract for its A321neos followed Qatar Airways’ refusal to take any more A350s until the problem was fixed. The airline had raised questions about the A350s’ carbon composite fuselage, designed to make the twin-aisle aircraft lighter and cheaper to operate by burning less jet fuel.

Airbus and Qatar Airways have settled a dispute over surface damage on grounded A350 jets and have reached a settlement in a long-standing legal dispute over the safety of the A350 jetliner. ‘Amicable settlement’ ends a row over the safety of Europe’s premier long-haul jet, averting a potentially damaging UK court trial. The companies said in a joint statement that the settlement was “amicable and mutually agreeable’’. “A repair project is now underway and both parties look forward to getting these aircraft safely back in the air,’’ the companies said in a statement. The “amicable settlement” ends a $2bn row over the safety of Europe’s premier long-haul jet, an unprecedented public rift which led Airbus to revoke dozens of other jet orders from Qatar ahead of a scheduled June court trial. The details of the settlement are confidential. The companies said the deal was not an admission of liability by either party, both of which would drop their legal claims and “move forward and work together as partners”. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed the settlement. The planemaker also said it would reinstate all orders it revoked as part of the dispute.