Qatar Airways and Airbus reach ‘amicable settlement’ in long running A350 legal dispute

Qatar Airways and Airbus have put an end to their lengthy legal dispute over the safety of the A350 passenger jet.

The two companies announced in a joint statement that the settlement was “amicable and mutually agreeable”.

The airline had raised concerns about the carbon composite fuselage of the aircraft, leading to a $2 billion row and Airbus revoking multiple jet orders from Qatar.

However, the “amicable settlement” will see a repair project get underway and both parties working together as partners.

The details of the settlement are confidential and not an admission of liability by either party.

The companies will drop all legal claims, and Airbus will reinstate all previous orders that were revoked.

The first of the 50 A321neo jets will be delivered in 2026, three years later than previously scheduled, while the first of the 23 undelivered A350s will be delivered this year.

The joint statement says: “Qatar Airways and Airbus are pleased to have reached an amicable and mutually agreeable settlement in relation to their legal dispute over A350 surface degradation and the grounding of A350 aircraft.”

“A repair project is now underway and both parties look forward to getting these aircraft safely back in the air.”

“The details of the settlement are confidential and the parties will now proceed to discontinue their legal claims.”

“The settlement agreement is not an admission of liability for either party.”

“This agreement will enable Qatar Airways and Airbus to move forward and work together as partners.”