Qatar Airways says Airbus spat risks 'industrial repercussions'

Airbus faces "industrial repercussions" if it fails to resolve a dispute that has driven a wedge between the European planemaker and major customer Qatar Airways, the airline's CE said on Thursday. Raising the stakes of a dispute potentially affecting airplane deliveries, which became public, CE Akbar Al Baker urged the Airbus board to intervene directly. "(Airbus) need to get real and they need to know that this problem will create industrial repercussions for them," Al Baker said. "The ball is in their court to fix the problem we have with them, and it is up to them to resolve this as soon as possible before things can get a bit out of hand," Al Baker added. He declined to give specifics, but denied a Reuters report that the dispute concerned A350 paintwork. "I think now is a time for the Airbus board to get involved and look at what is going on," Al Baker said. An Airbus spokesman said the planemaker regularly held talks with its customers and that these remained confidential. The airline says its exacting standards reflect its premium brand, though aerospace executives have accused it of seizing on such details in the past to delay taking deliveries or gain leverage in other negotiations, a suggestion it has denied.<br/>