Airbus and Qatar Airways in row

Qatar Airways has reportedly halted deliveries of its A350 jets due to dissatisfaction with the finish on the aircraft. According to reports, the surface below the paint is degrading unusually quickly and it will not take any more deliveries until Airbus resolves the issue.

In an interview, Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO, said: “We have an issue with Airbus we need to settle, and if we are not able to settle that serious issue we have with them, we will refuse to take any aircraft from them.”

Airbus is remaining tight-lipped on the situation, saying only that the discussions it is having with a customer are confidential. However, it is not the first time that an issue with the finish on the A350 has been indicated.

Lufthansa returned its four-year-old A350s to the paint shop in Toulouse, notionally to rebrand with the new livery. And as long ago as January, a Qatar Airways A350 was returned to Toulouse due to a paint/finish problem.

www.lufthansa.com

www.airbus.com

www.qatarairways.com

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