Qatar Airways has issued legal proceedings against Airbus in the Technology and Construction division of the High Court in London over accelerated surface degradation of the A350s in its fleet.
"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. Qatar Airways has therefore been left with no alternative but to seek a rapid resolution of this dispute via the courts," Qatar Airways said in a statement.
Qatar Airways says it has "21 A350 aircraft grounded by the condition and the legal proceedings have been commenced to ensure that Airbus will now address our legitimate concerns without further delay.
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"We strongly believe that Airbus must undertake a thorough investigation of this condition to conclusively establish its full root cause. Without a proper understanding of the root cause of the condition, it is not possible for Qatar Airways to establish whether any proposed repair solution will rectify the underlying condition."
Qatar Airways is known in the industry for its exacting standards which have been a positive influence on manufacturers.
Airbus has acknowledged that it "has 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.
It says it "is in the process of analyzing the contents of the claim" and adds that it "intends to vigorously defend its position."
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