Airbus, Qatar feud enters UK court spotlight

 

The world of aviation here airbus the European plane maker and Qatar airways they're set to face each other in court today as a dispute over billions of dollars of jets enters a theoretical phase and rattles some airline leaders the gulf carrier will today ask a UK judge to extend an order that prevents airbus revoking a contract for 50 a 320 one new jets pending further hearings airbus took the exceptionally rare step of halting order in January this year it was in retaliation for Qatar's refusal to accept delivery of larger A350S citing a breakdown in relations that has makings of a corporate divorce trial Qatar has grounded 23 of A350 jets voicing concerns over safety impact of gaps in a layer of lightning protection which was left exposed by cracked and public paint it says it will not take further deliveries until the cause is formally explained and suing airbus for steadily rising compensation that now exceeds one billion dollar world's largest plane maker airbus has acknowledged quality problems with the jets but insists the damage is well within safety tolerances and it noted that European regulators consider them airworthy and other airlines continue to fly them several industry players they have offered to mediate but so far there is no sign of any breakthrough though neither side has definitely closed the door of discussion and airbus has said it wants an amicable settlement today's hearing will be first in-person clash after procedural sessions were held online because of Kobe 19 restrictions.