Airbus finds surface coating flaw on A321neo fuselage, affects IndiGo planes
· Automobile · Hindustan Times, LiveMint
Airbus has detected a quality issue with the surface protection coating on the fuselage of a significant number of narrow-body A321neo planes, with around a dozen IndiGo aircraft impacted. The issue was identified during standard rework, showing a surface protection deviation on stringers at the lower front section of the fuselage. An Airbus spokesperson confirmed the source of the issue has been identified, contained, and a remedy is available, with all newly coated stringers now conforming to requirements. The spokesperson stated that the aircraft can continue to operate and that this is a quality issue, not a safety issue, with the rework not requiring disassembly of the stringers. IndiGo and Air India together operate around 190 A321neo aircraft, though no Air India planes are affected by this issue. The sources indicated that some part of the fuselage needs to be repainted and the work must be completed within two years.
Why it matters
IndiGo, which operates a significant portion of India's domestic air travel, may face maintenance delays and operational disruptions as it addresses the coating issue on around a dozen of its A321neo aircraft. While the issue does not pose a safety risk, the required rework could affect fleet availability and scheduling for the airline.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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