Airbus hopes for ‘amicable solution’ with Qatar Airways dispute.
Airbus hopes to reach an amicable solution in a row with Qatar Airways over damage to the surface of A350 passenger jets, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said on Thursday, Reuters reported.
→ Qatar Airways orders 34 777X freighters, with option for 16 more.
The two companies have been locked in a months-long dispute over paint erosion and deterioration to anti-lightning protection on the long-haul jets, which Airbus has acknowledged need attention while insisting the problems do not put safety at risk.
Qatar Airways has sued Airbus for more than $600 million and is refusing to take delivery of further A350s until its regulator receives formal analysis of the problem.
Airbus, which has said Qatar Airways mischaracterised the flaws and misinterpreted the contract, has revoked contracts for two of the jets and a separate Qatar order for 50 of the planemaker’s A321neo jets.
→ Qatar Airways looking for Cabin Crew in several Latin American countries and Spain.
“We had to make the decision to exercise our rights,” Faury told analysts.
“This decision followed many attempts to find mutually beneficial solutions and we continue to hope for an amicable solution.”
Both sides have pledged to defend their positions in what is seen as an exceptionally rare public dispute in the secretive planemaking industry.
Experts say Qatar Airways is expected to seek a court ruling that would prevent Airbus from cancelling the A321 deal, though it has also ordered at least 25 competing Boeing 737 MAX jets.
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