Airbus is undertaking repairs to a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 after the twinjet was damaged during the final stages of the production process.
Airbus is undertaking repairs to a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 after the twinjet was damaged during the final stages of the production process.
The aircraft suffered an “incident”, the airframer confirms, although it has not disclosed the nature of the event or the location of the damage.
Airbus says it is “working with the customer” with the aim of delivering the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered aircraft in December.
FlightGlobal understands, from a source familiar with the situation, that the A350-1000 was parked in a paint shop and sustained surface damage from one of the many pieces of equipment that surround the aircraft in such facilities.
“Airbus has assured us that the aircraft will be fully repaired and delivered shortly,” says British Airways, without elaborating on the circumstances.
Although the carrier has not identified the aircraft involved, BA had been expecting to receive four A350-1000s this year. Two have already been delivered and a third is already painted and undergoing flight tests, suggesting that the fourth – to be registered G-XWBD – is the one affected.
BA has 18 A350-1000s on order, which will be delivered over 2019-22.
Its initial routes with the type have included Dubai and Toronto, and the carrier is intending to deploy the type to Tel Aviv and Bangalore over the winter.
