At a further hearing a judge has denied Qatar's request for Airbus to stop trying to deliver their A350 orders (when Qatar refuse them it triggers financial penalties) and can even then sell them to other airlines. Clearly this has gone against Qatar's arguments of safety and damages. The full case is now set for three entertaining weeks in the summer next year. The judge suggested the parties reflect before then, voicing that the amount of time (money) being spent on legal teams looked disproportionate to a likely outcome and remarking the case "looks unsettleable, however that may change"!
The known facts seem to be that the A350's surface coating is not lasting as long as coatings on metal skinned airplanes. The 787 has similar problems and Qatar is not the only airline affected, but is the only one having stopped using affected examples and is suing Airbus. The closeups show the surface coating has cracked, peeled and exposed the metal lightning protection mesh. A lot more than the top layer of paint seems to be affected (surface coating has many layers before final coats of paint, graphics and gloss), but not the basic carbon structure of the fuselage. Airbus say they worked with Qatar to advise on repair/recoat but Qatar say that's not good enough and want a permanent solution. Meantime they fly their younger examples but refuse to take any more. Other airlines continue to fly their A350 fleets and enjoy the efficiency and passenger comfort. Presumably they are repairing/recoating as required. New A350 sales are being made by Airbus and the plane seems to be a successful, reliable and safe product. It must therefore raise the likelihood that a huge amount claimed by Qatar when they refused to get the surface coating repaired/re-coated and not flying some of their A350's is highly questionable to succeed. If that is accepted then why is Qatar so doggedly continuing to prosecute this law suit? They seem to need the planes as they have had to resurrect some of their A380's. We may see a reluctant return to try to settle with Airbus before summer and of course for an undisclosed amount.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...sh-2022-05-26/