Qatar Airways announced on Monday that it has begun legal proceedings in a British court against European aircraft manufacturer Airbus in an effort to resolve a dispute over surface damage to A350 aircraft. The airline stated in a statement that all its attempts to reach a constructive solution with Airbus regarding the rapid degradation of the A350's surface, which negatively impacts their operations, have failed. As a result, Qatar Airways had no choice but to seek a swift resolution to the dispute through the courts.
In response, Airbus confirmed that its A350 aircraft are safe. The company added that it had no further comments beyond previous statements indicating that it has identified the root cause of damage to the surfaces of some A350 planes and is working with customers and safety authorities. An Airbus spokesperson stated, "We are working with customers to provide enhancements."
The two parties have been in conflict for months over surface damage, including issues with paint and a protective layer against lightning strikes, which Qatar Airways claims has led the local regulatory authority to ground 21 aircraft. The rift widened this month when documents reviewed by Reuters revealed that at least five other airlines have complained about paint or other surface defects since late 2016.
Qatar Airways indicated that it has initiated legal proceedings in the technology and construction division of the High Court in London. More details on these proceedings have not yet been available. Last week, Airbus stated that it had offered solutions to Qatar Airways, such as repairing the lightning protection layer or fully repainting the aircraft, but the airline rejected the offer. On Monday, Qatar Airways stated that it cannot assess the feasibility of any proposed repairs without a proper understanding of the fundamental cause of the condition.
