Update: Qatar Airways’ A350 Dispute with Airbus - Aviation for Aviators
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Update: Qatar Airways’ A350 Dispute with Airbus

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There have been further developments in Qatar’s A350 situation with Airbus, as the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) issued an official directive for 13 of Qatar Airways’ A350s to remain grounded last Thursday. The 13 grounded Qatar A350s are to remain out of service until a cause and solution can be determined for the surface deterioration issues discovered on the aircraft. Qatar Airways’ Airbus A350 order also continues to be halted as a result of this.

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Dispute Background

The disagreement between Qatar and Airbus started back in November of last year when the airline sent one of their A350s to Ireland for a paint job. The A350 was supposed to receive a special livery advertising the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, after the regular paint was stripped off, it was revealed that the plane had suffered cracks in its airframe. When the issues were first discovered, Airbus said that the damage was “superficial/cosmetic and only visible when the top coat of paint is stripped,” but the deterioration proved to be more than just that later. The naked aircraft was sent to Toulouse for inspection in January of 2021, and as a result of the accelerated airframe degradation, Qatar halted all incoming deliveries of A350s and threatened to refuse all future orders in June.

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Irregularities have been found on the surface coating of a Qatar Airways  A350 - AIRLIVE
Credit: Airlive
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Qatar required the issue to be “fully understood and corrected” from Airbus before resuming the orders. This had an especially large impact on the A350 program, since Qatar was the largest customer for the Airbus A350s and the launch customer for both the A350-900 and A350-1000 variants. Qatar Airways also held stakes with LATAM Airlines and International Airlines Group (IAG), both operators of the A350, and warned that the A350 order schedules of those airlines could be affected as well. Qatar Airways was supposed to receive 2 more A350-1000s in June and 1 more in July, but those orders have been on hold. The airline has received their entire  -900 fleet, but still has a total of 23 A350-1000s scheduled to be delivered.

Qatar Airways Takes Delivery of Three Airbus A350-1000 | Airways Magazine
Credit: Airways Magazine

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Worsening matters, earlier this month, it was revealed that the same accelerated surface deterioration problem had been found on an additional 12 A350 aircraft in Qatar’s fleet, totaling the number of aircraft with the problem to 13. Among these 13, 11 were A350-900s and 2 were A350-1000s. All 13 of these aircraft have been grounded and are awaiting a fix. The oldest aircraft was only 6 years old and the youngest was barely 3. Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker has become frustrated and impatient with Airbus, saying that the aircraft manufacturer has been dragging their feet instead of actually solving the problem. With a significant portion of its A350 fleet out, Qatar has reactivated some of its A330 fleet to replace the A350s for the meantime.

Qatar Airways to deploy A330 to Sarajevo
Credit: EX-YU Aviation News
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To this day, the cause of the cracks still has not been uncovered yet, and a solution still hasn’t been detailed. It is noteworthy, however, to mention that Airbus A350s are built with a composite airframe instead of an aluminum structure like on older aircraft. Fortunately, the problem isn’t universal over all A350 aircraft, as the cracks have only been found on Qatar’s fleet. The problem is unique to Qatar, which has led some to speculate that the issue is caused from the environment in Doha or the Qatari livery rather than the aircraft itself. It is uncertain to make such assumptions though. Hopefully, a solution will be found soon and those 13 Qatar A350s will return to service.


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Qatar Airways Stops A350 Deliveries After Surface Paint Issues

https://simpleflying.com/podcasts/79-qatars-airbus-a350-drama-cathay-pacific-a321neos-3-more-

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Airbus Unveils New Automated A321XLR Equipping Hangar in Hamburg

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Airbus marked a significant step in its journey towards modernization and ramped-up production with the official opening of its new automated A321XLR equipping hangar in Hamburg. The inauguration was graced by Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher, and the German Aerospace Coordinator, Anna Christmann.

Hamburg
Photo by Airbus

Stepping Up Production

Airbus aims to ramp up the production rate for the A320 program to 75 by 2026. This new hangar plays an integral part in achieving that goal, as it would house the production of A321 fuselages. André Walter, Head of Airbus Commercial Aircraft Production in Germany, said, “The design of the building reflects the latest standards in production and sustainability.”

Dr. Peter Tschentscher emphasized Hamburg’s prominence in Airbus’s scheme of things, calling it a central location for Airbus’ single-aisle development and production. The new A321XLR, described as the flagship of the A320 Family, will be assembled at the Finkenwerder site in Hamburg.

Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, pointed out that investing in the new hangar is a pivotal move towards achieving climate neutrality in aviation. With Airbus positioning itself as a pioneer in sustainable aviation, it sends a clear message about the future direction of the industry.

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Hangar H259: A Peek Inside

Hamburg
Photo by Airbus

The new hangar, labeled H259, spans 9,600 m^2 of production space. It is equipped with advanced technologies, including automated logistics, digital systems, and real-time test stations. Every fuselage section undergoes rigorous testing after system installation and then heads to the final assembly line in Hamburg.

Employee comfort and efficiency were prioritized while planning the hangar. Moreover, sustainability was also at the forefront, with a 3,000 m^2 photovoltaic system powering the hangar and the surplus electricity being used for the site. An automatic control system for heating, ventilation, and lighting, along with the office block’s superior insulation, underlines Airbus’s commitment to sustainability.

Spotlight on the A321XLR

Hamburg
Photo by Airbus

The A321XLR is poised to be a game-changer. This evolution of the A320neo offers an impressive range of up to 4,700 nm, 15% more than its predecessor, the A321LR. The aircraft promises 30% lower fuel consumption per seat than older competitor models. Furthermore, the A321XLR offers enhanced passenger comfort, all while maintaining the low operational costs of a single-aisle aircraft. The A321XLR, with nearly 570 orders globally, is set to make its entry into service in 2024’s second quarter.

Read Also: AIRBUS A321XLR – Gamechanger in the World of Narrow Bodies

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Final and Sixth Beluga XL Rolls Out at Airbus

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Airbus

Airbus has rolled out the sixth and last of its Beluga XL freighters at the production facility in Toulouse, France. Based on the A330-200 platform and boasting a special livery, this plane joins a quintet of similar aircraft assisting Airbus in meeting production schedules at its various plants across the globe.

The Final Super Transporter

The concluding Airbus Beluga XL, also known as the ‘super transporter,’ marks the end of a production run consisting of six airplanes. Unlike its five predecessors, each displaying a consistent livery barring their fleet numbers (1-5), the final aircraft showcases a modified external color scheme.

This latest addition features Airbus’ standard house tail colors, logo, and the ‘Airbus Beluga XL’ fuselage titles present on the other five planes. However, it also carries the additional text ‘Also flying outsize cargo to your destination’ and a unique ‘winking eye’ motif on the left side of the forward fuselage.

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Beluga XL
Photo: Airbus

Currently, the sixth Beluga XL is preparing for its maiden flight, scheduled to occur within a few days. Its entry into service is expected in the latter half of 2023.

The Beluga XL: An Oversized Freight Carrier

Launched officially in November 2014, the Beluga XL program was initiated in response to Airbus’s evolving logistical transport needs. This new generation aircraft, derived from the Airbus A330-200 airliner platform, replaced the previous Beluga ST transporter, whose job was to ferry aircraft components between Airbus factories and assembly plants across Europe.

Beluga XL
Photo: Airbus

The Beluga XL had its first flight in July 2018 and entered service in February 2021 with Airbus Transport International (ATI), the logistics division of the European aerospace group.

Before the Beluga STs, Airbus relied on a fleet of four Super Guppies, a turboprop freighter developed by Boeing in the 1960s. However, their limited cargo capability led to their replacement by the Beluga ST, which now gives way to the Beluga XL fleet.

Unmatched Capabilities of the Beluga XL

Being seven meters longer and one meter wider than the Beluga ST, the Beluga XL can boast of a 30% increase in load capacity. Thanks to improved loading systems, the Beluga XL’s turnaround time is approximately one hour, nearly halving that of the Beluga ST.

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One of the unique features of the Beluga XL is its large cargo door located above the flight deck, which allows easy loading of whole wings and large sections of fuselage into the enormous cargo compartment. According to Airbus, the Beluga XL can carry two completed wings of the A350 XWB, while the Beluga ST could only manage one.

Read more about the Beluga XL: Airbus Beluga: A Marvel of Engineering and Design

Joining a Busy Worldwide Fleet

Beluga XL
Photo: Airbus

Soon, the final Beluga XL will join the ATI fleet, operating between 11 European destinations, gradually replacing the five-member-strong Beluga ST fleet. However, the Beluga ST fleet isn’t retiring yet. They are being phased into another operational division of ATI – Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), launched in July 2022.

While AiBT initially focused on missions for other Airbus divisions, it plans to accommodate an increasing number of external commercial customers as the Beluga XLs take over the primary role of transporting commercial airplane components for Airbus. By February 2023, AiBT had already filled nearly 50% of its slots for the rest of the year, catering to many requests for outsized cargo transportation missions worldwide.

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Bulgaria Air’s Airbus A220: Latest-Generation Addition to Fleet

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A220 Aircraft
Stefan Markov via PLANESPOTTERS

Bulgaria Air now proudly hosts the Airbus A220 in its fleet, marking an important step towards greener aviation. The A220’s attributes of operational flexibility, unrivaled comfort, and reduced emissions make it a sought-after choice for airlines working towards more efficient and sustainable aircraft operations. With the addition of Bulgaria Air’s Airbus A220, passengers can now look forward to a state-of-the-art flight experience that has already been enjoyed by over 90 million travelers worldwide.

Bulgaria Air's Airbus A220
Image Via: Aviation24.be

Bulgaria Air, the national airline of Bulgaria, has received its first A220 aircraft from Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada. The A220, which will be leased from Air Lease Corporation, will operate on regional and international routes throughout Europe. Bulgaria Air will lease a total of seven A220s from ALC.

The A220, Airbus’ latest-generation aircraft, will complement Bulgaria Air’s existing fleet of seven A320s. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 offers increased operational flexibility to airlines like Bulgaria Air.

The initial configuration of Bulgaria Air’s A220 will have a total of 143 seats in dual-class, including eight business-class seats. The A220 is designed for the 100-150 seat market and incorporates advanced aerodynamics, materials, and Pratt & Whitney engines. It provides unbeatable comfort in a small single aisle with the widest windows, largest seats, and overhead stowage, as well as the widest and quietest cabin in its category.

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The A220 also supports Bulgaria Air’s commitment to decarbonizing aviation, as it produces up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat than previous-generation aircraft and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. Additionally, the aircraft’s noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous-generation aircraft.

Airbus has received nearly 800 orders from 30 customers for the A220, with 265 already delivered. The A220 is currently in service with 16 airlines worldwide, operating on over 1,100 routes and over 375 destinations. Over 90 million passengers have flown on the A220 to date.

Hence, What do you think are the benefits of Bulgaria Air’s addition of the Airbus A220 to its fleet?

Also, you may be interested in reading: The Story of the A220, how it Came About and How it’s Becoming Popular

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