By Cristina Roca

Airbus SE is claiming damages of more than $220 million from Qatar Airways as part of a legal dispute between the two companies over the plane maker's A350 jets, an Airbus spokesperson told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

The companies have been embroiled in a monthslong fight over paint. Early last year, the Qatari carrier complained that the paint on recently delivered Airbus A350s was cracking and peeling. Alleging that the paint issue is a safety risk, it has since filed a London lawsuit, grounded the affected aircraft and refused deliveries of two more of the planes.

Airbus's claim was filed as part of the dispute opened in London by Qatar. "Airbus will defend its reputation and that of the A350," a company spokesperson said, adding that there are additional claims that will be quantified in the future.

The European plane maker has acknowledged a paint issue with a number of A350s and says it isn't a safety issue. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which acts in many respects like the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S., independently assessed the issue and found no safety concerns.

Airbus has claimed that Qatar's refusal to accept the two planes amounts to a default, allowing it to adjust or cancel other contracts it holds with the airline. Last month, it scrapped a $6 billion deal to supply Qatar with 50 of its A321 jets.

Representatives for Qatar Airways weren't available for comment.

Write to Cristina Roca at cristina.roca@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 28, 2022 12:48 ET (17:48 GMT)

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