EASA sees no evidence of A350 paint flaws posing safety risk

In the latest development in the ongoing legal dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways, Europe’s aviation regulator has said that it has found no evidence that that paint or surface erosion on A350 jets posed a safety concern, according to a Reuters report.

However, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) acknowledged quality flaws with the jets at several airlines.

EASA confirmed its position in an emailed statement to AeroTime.

Airbus and Qatar Airways are currently embroiled in a legal row over paint or surface erosion on the Airbus A350 aircraft. In late 2021, Qatar Airways sued Airbus over fuselage surface deterioration on its A350s, seeking more than $600 million in compensation. Qatar Airways, which has 53 A350s in its fleet, claims it had to remove a total of 22 aircraft from the flight roster.

In retaliation, Airbus attempted to terminate a separate contract to deliver 50 A321neo aircraft that Qatar Airways had on order. But this decision was temporarily frozen by a British court.

However, in late April 2022, London’s High Court of Justice authorized Airbus not to continue the assembly of A321neo airliners for the Gulf air carrier.