What’s Wrong with the Airbus A350?

The Airbus A350 is one of the most advanced and efficient long-haul aircraft in the world, but it has also faced some serious issues recently. In this blog post, we will explore what’s wrong with the A350, and how it affects the airlines that operate it.

The paint problem

The most prominent problem that the A350 has encountered is the paint problem. This issue involves the degradation of the fuselage surface below the paint, which causes peeling and cracking. This problem was first reported by Qatar Airways, one of the largest customers and the launch customer of the A350. The airline grounded over a dozen A350 jets in August 2021, and stopped taking delivery of new ones until the problem was resolved.

Qatar Airways claimed that the paint problem was a safety issue, as it could compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft. The airline also accused Airbus of not taking the issue seriously, and threatened to sue the manufacturer for damages. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker stated that the business relationship between the airline and Airbus had been “destroyed”, and that he did not know if they would be able to work with them again.

However, Airbus denied that the paint problem was a safety issue, and called it a cosmetic issue instead. The manufacturer said that the surface degradation had been thoroughly assessed by the company and confirmed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and that it had no impact on the airworthiness of the A350. Airbus also accused Qatar Airways of misrepresenting the issue and threatening the international protocols on safety matters. Airbus announced that it had sought legal action against Qatar Airways to resolve the dispute.

The paint problem is not exclusive to Qatar Airways, though. Other airlines that operate the A350 have also reported similar issues, such as Finnair, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. According to Mentour Pilot, a YouTube channel run by an experienced pilot, the paint problem is caused by a mismatch between the metal layer and the paint layer on the fuselage of the A350. The metal layer, called Expanded Copper Foil (ECF), is designed to protect the aircraft from lightning strikes. However, the ECF does not bond well with the paint, and causes corrosion and cracking over time2. Airbus is working on a solution, which involves using a different metal layer, called Perforated Copper Foil (PCF), which is supposed to be more compatible with the paint.

The canceled variant

Another problem that the A350 faced was the cancellation of one of its variants, the A350–800. This variant was supposed to be the shortest and the longest-range version of the A350 family, with a capacity of 276 passengers and a range of 15,270 km. However, the A350–800 never made it to production, as most of the customers who ordered it converted their orders to the larger A350–900 or A350–1000 variants.

One of the reasons for the cancellation of the A350–800 was the introduction of the A330neo, a newer and more efficient version of the A330, which is another long-haul aircraft by Airbus. The A330neo offered similar performance and capacity as the A350–800, but at a lower cost and with more commonality with the existing A330 fleet. Therefore, many airlines preferred the A330neo over the A350–800, as it suited their operational needs better.

Another reason for the cancellation of the A350–800 was the merger of US Airways and American Airlines, which happened in 2013. US Airways was one of the key customers of the A350–800, with 22 orders. However, after the merger, American Airlines decided to switch all the orders to the A350–900, and then eventually canceled the whole order, as it preferred to stick with its Boeing-focused widebody fleet.

The conclusion

The Airbus A350 is a remarkable aircraft, but it is not without its flaws. The paint problem and the canceled variant are two of the major issues that the A350 has faced, and they have affected the reputation and the profitability of the aircraft. However, Airbus is working hard to fix the paint problem, and to offer other variants that can meet the demands of the market. The A350 still has a lot of potential, and it will continue to be one of the leading aircraft in the aviation industry.