A350 wide-body jet
Airbus is seeking legal clarification in the dispute with A350 customers
A segment of an A350 fuselage in front of a production hall on the Airbus factory premises in Hamburg. Photo: Marcus Brandt / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Airbus faces criticism because the coating of the surfaces of an aircraft type is not free from defects. However, the aircraft manufacturer does not consider the deficiencies to be relevant to safety.
The aircraft manufacturer Airbus does not want to accept the criticism of the major customer Qatar Airways of the A350 wide-body jets any longer. The problems with the surface coating of the machines are not relevant to safety, said Airbus program director Philippe Mhun.
This was also confirmed by the European aviation authority EASA, said Mhun in a conference call on Thursday evening. The manufacturer now wants to have the matter examined legally by an independent expert. It is about defending the position and reputation of Airbus.
Qatar Airways is one of the most important Airbus customers and already has 53 A350 aircraft in its fleet. Another 23 have been ordered. However, the airline of the Arab Emirates of Qatar has taken a number of planes of the type out of service because of the problems and suspended the acceptance of further jets in June.
“All machines with other airlines fly,” said Mhun with a view to other customers who had also discovered problems with the paint or the coating of their A350 jets. Depending on the individual case, Airbus will replace parts of the metallic fabric under the paint or renew the paint.
The dispute with Qatar Airways has been going on for over a year. Qatar Airways boss Akbar Al Baker has publicly criticized Airbus on the matter several times. The manufacturer, however, had kept a low profile.
Airbus wants to get the affected machines back into the air, said Mhun. An independent assessment should lead to conversations with customers getting going again. The manager left it open whether Airbus would take the matter to court.
The fuselage of the A350 consists largely of carbon fiber composites. A metallic fabric that protects against lightning strikes lies between the fuselage and the exterior paintwork. Depending on the operating conditions, cracks in the paint or in this fabric appeared on some aircraft of the type, according to Airbus.
Qatar boss Al Baker has caused a stir at Airbus on several occasions. At the end of 2014, the ceremonial delivery of the very first A350 was postponed at short notice because the airline was not satisfied with the details of the jet. Qatar Airways should have received the first copy of the modernized A320neo medium-haul jet at the end of 2015, but refused to accept it. As a result, the first A320neo was delivered to Lufthansa at the beginning of 2016.