Exclusive | Qatar Airways expects to ground more Airbus A350s over surface flaws, with CEO accusing planemaker of ‘destroying’ business relationship
- The faults have been described as blistering in the planes’ finish, exposing fuselage beneath
- In addition to affecting at least 21 Qatar Airlines planes, the issues are said to also extend to other carriers, including Cathay Pacific
Qatar Airways expects to ground more of its Airbus A350 jets over flaws in their finish, with its chief accusing the European planemaker of having “destroyed” its business relationship with the carrier in an exclusive interview with the Post.
Akbar Al Baker, CEO of the Doha-based super-connector, said on Tuesday that Qatar was also planning to lease a significant number of aircraft to make up for more planes being grounded, but warned it would be difficult to repair the frayed relationship with Airbus.
“We can always let the water pass under the bridge and move on,” Al Baker told the Post.
But, he added: “With Airbus, the damage is very severe. I don’t know how we will be able to work with them again.”
Qatar Airways is one of Airbus’ largest customers, but the two have been locked in an acrimonious dispute over paint and surface flaws on the latter’s marquee jets, prompting the carrier to ground at least 21 of its 53 Airbus A350s on the orders of its national aviation regulator.
