Story
Airbus, Leonardo Investigate Coating Flaw on 500 A321neo Jets
Summary
Airbus and key supplier Leonardo are investigating a quality control issue involving missing protective primer on the fuselage of 500 A321neo aircraft, a flaw that raises new questions about supply chain vulnerabilities.
Airbus and its Italian supplier Leonardo are investigating a manufacturing flaw at a subcontractor that has affected 500 of the planemaker's best-selling A321neo jets. The issue involves gaps in a protective primer coating on a fuselage component, though Airbus has stated the defect does not pose an immediate safety risk.
Details of the Flaw
The quality alert was triggered after an Airbus technician discovered missing primer underneath the paint on a fuselage part, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with the matter. The affected components are strengthening rods, known as stringers, located in a forward fuselage section.
This primer is designed to prevent long-term corrosion in the lowest part of the fuselage, an area known as the "bilge" where moisture can accumulate. While its absence is not an immediate safety concern on new aircraft, it necessitates future repairs to ensure the airframe's longevity.
Supply Chain Investigation
The problem has been traced to TESI, a coatings firm south of Naples that serves as a subcontractor to Leonardo. According to the report, engineering teams from both Airbus and Leonardo are on-site at the TESI facility to investigate the cause and support recovery efforts.
AdLeonardo is one of two suppliers for the forward fuselage section, alongside Airbus's own subsidiary, Airbus Atlantic. This incident marks the second fuselage-related quality issue for Airbus in less than a year, placing renewed focus on oversight and potential vulnerabilities within its complex global supply chain.
Market Impact and Outlook
Of the 500 jets involved, approximately 250 are at various stages of production. Airbus has informed airlines taking delivery of the affected aircraft that they will have a two-year window to complete repairs, a shorter timeframe than the typical four-year maintenance cycle.
The repair work is expected to take up to nine days per aircraft and will not require removing the parts from the fuselage panel. Despite concerns from analysts that the issue could add pressure to its production ramp-up, Airbus reaffirmed its full-year delivery target for 2026.
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