Mateusz Maszczynski has honed his skills as an international flight attendant...

The British government has confirmed that it has offered to mediate the escalating dispute between European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Qatar Airways. Since May, the paint problem of some Airbus A350 aircraft has been brewing in front of the public, and the two sides have fallen into a war of words due to the paint problem.

When Airbus announced plans to seek an "independent legal assessment" on the issue on Thursday, the debate entered a new stage as it tried to protect its brand image from allegations that the A350 faces airworthiness issues.

Although Airbus was careful not to disclose the name of the airline involved, only Qatar Airways publicly criticized Airbus for the paint issue. Akbar Al Baker, chief executive officer of Qatar Airways, said that this issue has caused cracks in the fuselages of some aircraft. Qatar's civil aviation regulatory agency has grounded 20 A350 aircraft for safety reasons.

Airbus believes that these concerns are unfounded. An assessment by the European Aviation Safety Agency also confirmed that although the appearance is annoying, the paint problem does not constitute a safety risk.

At least five airlines have encountered similar problems, but only Qatar Airways has grounded its aircraft due to the problem.

The problem arises because the A350 is made with the most advanced carbon composite body, which must then be lined with a lightweight metal mesh to prevent lightning strikes. The paint in certain areas of this grid is bubbling and cracking, and airlines operating in extreme heat (such as in Qatar) are experiencing greater problems.

In order to resolve the dispute, British Investment Minister Grimstone said that he has proposed mediation between the two parties.

A government spokesperson confirmed the proposal, saying it reflects "the importance of Airbus and Qatar's investment to the UK."

It is said that Qatar has invested more than 40 billion pounds in the UK through the Qatar Investment Authority. Investments include shares in famous British banks, airports, supermarkets and Harrods (the iconic Knightsbridge department store).

Airbus manufactures wings for all aircraft models in a large production plant in Wales.

However, Reuters quoted sources as saying that both parties were not interested in the mediation proposal. After Airbus's rare public intervention on Thursday, Qatar Airways has so far declined to comment on this issue.

The aircraft manufacturer said in a statement: "Although Airbus regrets the necessity of taking this route, it has become necessary to defend its position and reputation."

"Airbus has been actively working with customers to minimize the impact and any inconvenience caused by this in-service ground degradation. These solutions have been rejected by the aforementioned customers without justified reasons."

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Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most famous airline in the Middle East and has been flying for a famous European airline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt is passionate about the aviation industry and has become an expert in passenger experience and human-centered stories. Matt's industry insights, analysis and news reports always pay close attention to the ground, and some celebrities in the press often rely on him.

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