Qatar Airways has said it has launched legal proceedings against Airbus in UK Courts in a dispute about the damage it claims is being caused to its A350 aircraft by a defect.
The action follows a move last week by Airbus to get an independent legal assessment of the damage to try and find a resolution with the Qatari airline.
In a statement, the airline has said “We have sadly failed in all our attempts to reach a constructive solution with Airbus in relation to the accelerated surface degradation condition adversely impacting the Airbus A350 aircraft,” adding “Qatar Airways has therefore been left with no alternative but to seek a rapid resolution of this dispute via the courts.”
The now-bitter dispute between the planemaker and one of its biggest customers centres around a paint issue which in some cases is exposing the structure under the surface designed to absorb lightning strikes.
Airbus says that the issue has no safety impact but the airline says it was ordered by Qatari authorities to ground the affected aircraft.
In response, Airbus said: “Airbus received a formal legal claim in the English courts filed by Qatar Airways, relating to the dispute over the degradation of surface and paint on certain of Qatar Airways’ A350XWB aircraft. Airbus is in the process of analysing the contents of the claim. Airbus intends to vigorously defend its position”
