A British judge will decide on Tuesday whether Airbus should continue building A321neo planes for Qatar Airways, which it is locked in a dispute with. A decision has implications for future aircraft deals worth billions of dollars, as their public dispute returns to the High Court in London.
Airbus in January canceled the A321neo deal in response to Qatar's refusal to take delivery of the A350 in a separate legal and safety dispute over surface damage to the larger plane.
The decision to cancel the A321neo deal has alarmed some airlines, with the head of the International Air Transport Association describing it as a worrying development in a corner of the market where Airbus has the most new orders. .
Airbus accuses Qatar Airways, the A350's largest customer, of spreading false safety concerns to avoid taking delivery of planes at a time of weak demand and for a $1 billion claim. .
Qatar Airways says it is right to stop taking deliveries of the A350 over what it describes as real safety concerns from the regulator in Doha about gaps or erosion in the protective film. of lightning, which became exposed due to cracked paint on more than 20 grounded A350s.
