‘Significant condition’: Qatar Airways grounds 13 Airbus A350s; says will not induct more A350s till issue resolves

NEW DELHI: Qatar Airways has grounded 13 Airbus A350 after discovering a “significant condition” wherein the “fuselage surface below the paint is degrading at an accelerated rate”. Acting on the “explicit written instruction” of Qatar’s aviation regulator, the airline says it is “effectively removing them (the 13 A350s) from service until such time as the root cause can be established and a satisfactory solution made available to permanently correct the underlying condition.” Moreover, theDoha-based mega carrier has also told Airbus it will not induct any A350 into its fleet till Airbus resolves this issue.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “With this latest development, we sincerely expect that Airbus treats this matter with the proper attention that it requires.