Qatar Airways and Airbus’s row over plane paint heads to court

AIRBUS and Qatar Airways are heading towards a three-month trial after a High Court judge said there was public interest in the outcome of a dispute over protective paint on some planes.

The Gulf carrier questioned the safety of around two dozen long-haul jetliners, which are currently grounded, over flaws in their protective skin.

Airbus has acknowledged the A350s and other jets are suffering erosion to the painted surface and a layer of lightning protection. It insists that they are safe, with the backing of European regulators, despite Qatar’s refusal to take more deliveries.

The trial is expected next summer. Judge David Waksman said: “I am in absolutely no doubt that this case should be tried as soon as is practically possible.” He also refused to order Airbus to stop trying to deliver more A350s to Qatar Airways, or to refrain from reselling undelivered aircraft, while the dispute drags on. Reuters has reported Air India could step in as a buyer.

Qatar Airways has questioned the jet’s defences against lightning, which strikes commercial jets about once a year, and is suing Airbus for $1bn (£790m) in damages for idled planes.

Airbus has counter-sued for the return of millions of dollars of credits awarded when jets were sold and accused Qatar of refusing to take planes as a device to tackle overcapacity.

Qatar Airways said an “expedited trial [would] provide a swift resolution of this unprecedented dispute”. Airbus renewed calls for a settlement. “The continued litigation is not in the interests of either party,” it said.