By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters.) – Qatar Airways announced Monday that it has filed proceedings against Airbus, a UK planemaker. This was in a bid for a resolution to a dispute regarding A350 passenger jet skin defects. The move brings the parties closer to a rare legal battle over safety in aviation.

Both companies are locked in an ongoing dispute over corrosion and lightning protection. Qatar Airways has claimed that the sub-layer of lightning shield damage caused by blistering paint on aircrafts was responsible for 21 A350 planes being grounded.

Airbus maintains that the carbon-composite passenger planes are safe, despite “surface degradation,” but Qatar Airways claims it’s too soon to know if safety has been compromised.

Airbus accused Gulf Airlines of misrepresenting their safety problem and threatened legal action.

Qatar Airways retorted Monday by saying that it had brought its complaint against Airbus before the High Court London.

In a statement, it stated that “we have unfortunately failed in all of our efforts to reach a constructive resolution with Airbus regarding the accelerated soil degradation condition adversely affecting the Airbus A350 airplane.” Qatar Airways was left without a choice but to pursue a swift resolution through the courts.

Airbus said late Monday that they had received formal legal claims. Airbus said it would vigorously defend the position.

A spokesperson for the company said that they had already identified the root cause and were working closely with customers.

Qatar Airways denied that any surface flaws, which some witnesses claimed left certain jets looking pockmarked, were properly understood. It stated Monday that Airbus should conduct an “in depth investigation”.

JET GROUNDED

Many industry leaders said that such an unprecedented public legal battle between two major players in aviation is unheard of.

The row widened this month when documents seen by Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/airbus-a350-insight-idTRNIKBN2IE0TB revealed at least five other airlines in varying climates had complained about paint or other surface problems since 2016. Airbus maintained that the issue was centered on Qatar’s A350s based in Qatar.

Reuters first reported Airbus’s intention to change the anti-lightning mechanism.

Qatar Airways has been accused of disregarding these proposals and has claimed that the planemaker is offering interim solutions, ranging from repair to repainting.

Qatar Airways stated Monday that it was unsure whether the proposed repairs would be successful without further analysis. Its chief executive has questioned https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/qatar-airways-ceo-says-airbus-should-admit-paint-flaws-problem-2021-11-30 why Airbus is still working on a solution if a reliable fix is already available.

40 percent of A350s currently in service are now grounded, representing 40%. This is a significant increase from the initial order of A350s for which the customer was the most successful. Others still fly the aircraft, claiming that it is safe and sound.

Airbus is expected to lose the Qatari order for its new A350 cargoer version due to this row. Airbus received its first order firm for the model Monday. This confirms a tentative order of four planes by France’s CMA CGM.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker told the South China Morning Post last week https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/singapore-airlines-provisional-deal-buy-seven-a350-freighters-2021-12-15 he had previously looked at placing a large order for the cargo A350. According to sources, Boeing (NYSE: ) is expected to be awarded the contract to replace Qatar’s 34 to 35 freighters.