Airbus Seeks $220 Million From Qatar Airways
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Airbus has asked the UK High Court for $220 million in damages from Qatar Airways after the airline rejected two Airbus A350 aircraft.
The move is the latest in a long-running and increasingly bitter feud between the two.
The court claim for damages came after Qatar Airways sued the company for $600 million over surface deterioration on more than 20 previously delivered A350 jets.
The essence of the order, according to the carrier, is that the manufacturer must refrain from doing anything that would “adversely affect its ability to comply with any court order that Qatar Airways might obtain in relation to the purported cancellation of the A321 contract” between now and a further hearing in April.
According to the carrier, the order issued is an injunction, so if it is violated, there would be “severe consequences” for Airbus.
The ruling is the latest in an increasingly strident conflict between the two parties.
In response to Qatar Airways’ claims, Airbus terminated the carrier’s order of 50 Airbus A321neo aircraft in January 2022. However, the UK court ordered Airbus to freeze the cancellation on February 18, 2022.
This followed the Middle East carrier’s decision in December to file legal action against Airbus over the grounding of its A350 fleet.
Last year, the airline grounded 21 planes, claiming that the paint on the fuselage was “degrading at an accelerated rate” and posing a safety risk.
Airbus responded, accusing the airline of “ongoing mischaracterising non-structural surface deterioration.”
According to the manufacturer, the surface paint-related findings have been thoroughly reviewed by its team and confirmed by the European Aviation Safety Agency as having “no airworthiness impact” on the A350.
During an earnings call, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stated that the business was looking for a mutually agreeable solution.
“We have to take steps to protect ourselves and the firm, and that is essentially what we are doing,” he continued, “but we continue to attempt to settle the matter in a more pleasant manner.”
Qatar Airways stated that it was “surprised” by the remarks.
The airline stated that its legal staff was not aware of any efforts by Airbus to remedy the problem.
Despite the dispute, Qatar Airways still wants to reinstate the order of 50 Airbus A321neo jets revoked by Airbus in January 2022.
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