Airbus (EU:AIR) has identified a fuselage quality issue affecting approximately 500 A321neo aircraft, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
Around 250 of the affected aircraft are already in service, while a further 250 are in production, according to the report.
The issue does not represent a safety risk and aircraft already in service can continue operating, Reuters reported.
Issue Relates to Fuselage Stringer Coating
Airbus identified a “deviation” in the surface protection, or coating, applied to stringers, structural components that run lengthways along the aircraft’s fuselage.
The issue was identified during the summer and was first reported by aviation industry publication the Air Current.
According to the report, the A321XLR, the longer-range variant of the A321neo, is not affected.
Customers are continuing to accept deliveries of affected aircraft without additional work being required before handover. Airbus has also told airlines that there is no immediate requirement to repair aircraft already in service, the report said.
European aviation regulators could subsequently issue a directive requiring repairs to be completed within a specified timeframe, according to Reuters.
Previous A321neo Fuselage Issue Affected Deliveries
The latest issue follows a separate fuselage-related quality problem involving the A321neo that Airbus reported in December.
That issue involved defects in fuselage panels and was also described by Airbus as having no safety implications. Remedial work contributed to several months of delivery delays.
The latest quality issue comes as Airbus works to increase narrow-body aircraft production from approximately 60 aircraft per month to a target of 75 per month.
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