Qatar Airways denied it owes Airbus $220m in compensation for failing to accept A350 deliveries, in the latest salvo in a bitter legal dispute. The Gulf carrier said in documents made public Monday that it didn’t break its contract with Airbus when it refused to take two of the wide-body jets, and said the planemaker hadn’t properly explained how it arrived at the figure. Qatar Airways, one of Airbus’s biggest customers, has been feuding with the planemaker over surface paint issues, rejecting further deliveries while the two sides argued and filing a lawsuit late last year. Airbus responded by canceling orders for two A350s and a separate order for 50 A321s, a smaller plane.bQatar Airways, which has asked for more than $700m, said on Monday that the surface flaws could leave the plane vulnerable to damage from a lighting strike. The airline said the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, which has backed Airbus’s contention that there’s no safety issue, hasn’t undertaken an “extensive analysis.” Qatar Airways also listed other carriers that have flagged concerns with the A350. They include Finnair and Cathay Pacific, which both raised questions as far back as 2016, before the Hong Kong carrier later reported problems with multiple planes. By October 2019, Etihad and Air France/Air Caraibes Atlantique had also reported such damage, Qatar Airways said. The two sides also disagree over whether Airbus has adequately figured out the cause of the issue, and found suitable solutions. The manufacturer proposed a patch repair for one aircraft which Qatar said Monday exhibited failings after one week.<br/>
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Qantas is set to enter the controversial world of NFTs, which are a new form of collectable, digital art. The airline is currently asking users to register their interest ahead of a mid-year release. So-called non-fungible tokens are seen by some as an innovative way for artists to make money, but by others as a scam, because these can sell for millions, yet be easily replicated. Already, the move has received a mixed response on social media. NFTs can trace their history back to 2014, but gained notoriety after one piece of artwork, called Everydays – The First 5000 Days by American artist Mike Winkelmann sold for US$69 million at Christie’s in March 2021. Those who purchase NFTs are known as the legal owners and can sell and transfer the asset. However, many can be easily and effectively replicated, in much the same way as images on the internet can be copied and pasted. Qantas said on Monday it was “looking to the future” with a “next collection of memorabilia”. “Using blockchain technology, each piece of digital artwork will be one-of-a-kind allowing you to buy, own, collect and sell your unique tokens,” read the publicity website. “In a world-first, the initial buyer of a Qantas NFT will be able to earn Qantas Points, with more exciting future benefits for Qantas NFT holders underway.”<br/>