A video demonstrating the battered exterior of one of Qatar Airways planes that, according to the airline, underscores some serious and legitimate safety concerns, has been released by the airline in the middle of the squabble it has with Airbus.
The ongoing dispute Airbus claims that Qatar Airways has engineered in order to capitalize is over the condition of some of the Airbus long-haul jets that it provides to the state-owned airline, which has already grounded 21 of the 53 A350s it was operating.
Qatar Airways claims that the video it has released shows some defects – damaged paint, cracks in the anti-lightning protection, carbon-fiber patches that were exposed to moisture and ultra-violet light – on the skin of one of the grounded planes.
The airline strongly urged Airbus in its statement to undertake a thorough investigation of the jets’ condition to conclusively establish its full root cause, demanding at the same time $618 million in compensation and an additional $4 million per day, and has halted taking new A350 deliveries.
Although it has admitted the said defects need attention, Airbus also pointed out they pose no safety threats and that Qatar Airways had no reasonable nor rational basis to ground the A350s.
Its stand was also supported by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which independently assessed the issue and found no safety concerns.
The planemaker, in the meantime, has escalated the legal battle between the two companies, canceling the $6bn contract with Qatar Airways for 50 of its new A321neo passenger jets.
Qatar Airways already owns a fleet of 53 Airbus long-haul A350s in both its 1000 and 900 series it will now be relying on for the increased inflow of passengers to Qatar for the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
The month-long sports event will be played in the Arab Gulf state starting Nov. 21.
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