Hainan Airlines plans one-off Belgrade service

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Qatar - Airbus to have speedy trial

Airbus and Qatar Airways are heading towards a three-month summer trial next year after a UK judge granted the airline a relatively quick timetable while dismissing its procedural claims in a bitter safety and contractual dispute. The judge told a division of London's High Court there was "public interest" in the outcome of the dispute, which has seen the Gulf carrier question the safety of about two dozen grounded A350 long-haul jetliners over flaws in their protective skin. Airbus has acknowledged these and other jets are suffering erosion to the painted surface and a layer of lightning protection but insists with the backing of European regulators they are safe, despite Qatar's refusal to take more deliveries. "I am in absolutely no doubt that this case should be tried as soon as is practically possible", Judge David Waksman said, backing the airline's call for a speedy trial. However, he rejected a bid by the airline to split the trial into two parts to allow Airbus to perform a deeper technical analysis, something the planemaker says it has already done. He also refused to order Airbus to stop formally trying to deliver more A350s to Qatar Airways, or to refrain from re-selling undelivered aircraft, while the dispute drags on. The procedural ruling means Airbus is free to attempt to trigger payment clauses as more planes are built. It can also try to sell A350s that Qatar has rejected to carriers like Air India, which industry sources say could step in as a buyer. Qatar Airways has questioned the jet's defences against lightning, which strikes commercial jets about once a year, and is suing Airbus for $1 billion in damages for idled planes. Airbus has counter-sued for the return of millions of dollars of credits awarded when jets were sold and accused Qatar of refusing to take planes as a device to tackle overcapacity.

Hainan Airlines plans one-off Belgrade service

NEWS FLASH

Hainan Airlines plans to operate a one-off service from Shanghai’s Pudong Airport to Belgrade on February 5. The aircraft is expected to touch down in the Serbian capital at 19.00 local time, but its return is not slated until February 14. The jet is likely to be catering for Chinese construction workers based in Serbia, which, due to the pandemic and strict entry conditions into China, have limited options to fly home. The airline operated a similar charter last year, while Xiamen Airlines deployed its Boeing 787 aircraft to Belgrade just a month ago.

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Anonymous16:48
What equipment will they use?
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Nemjee06:50
Another oddity is that Uzbekistan Airlines operated a charter flight to BEG tonight. It was with a B767 and departed Belgrade just before 06.00.
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Hainan Airlines plans one-off Belgrade service

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