Aircraft
Airbus, Qatar Airways Settle A350 Surface Degradation Dispute
Following nearly two years of trading barbs, Airbus and Qatar Airways have reached an “amicable” settlement on their dispute over A350 surface degradation.
A Qatar Airways Airbus A350 approaches Geneva International Airport in 2019. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by FlugZüge)
A Qatar Airways Airbus A350 approaches Geneva International Airport in 2019. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by FlugZüge)

Airbus and Qatar Airways have reached what they call an amicable and mutually agreeable settlement of their legal dispute over A350 airframe surface degradation and the grounding of 21 aircraft, the European airframer said on Wednesday. The settlement paves the way for Airbus to proceed with deliveries of 50 A321s and resume shipments of 23 A350s to the Qatari flag carrier, an Airbus spokesman confirmed to AIN.

A repair project for Qatar’s grounded A350s has begun, said Airbus, which added that the settlement details will remain confidential. As part of the settlement, neither party admits any liability.