Airbus alerts customers to fuselage corrosion protection defect on A321neo

Airbus is alerting customers to a quality defect in the fuselage structure of hundreds of A321neo aircraft, Aviación al Día reports. The problem affects corrosion resistance on aircraft already delivered and on units still on the production line.

The manufacturer told The Air Current the deviation was found during routine rework, in the surface protection of stringers in the forward lower section of the fuselage. It originated with an unnamed tier 2 supplier that applied insufficient anti-corrosion protection to the structures.

More than 500 aircraft are affected, according to sources close to the matter. Roughly 250 of those are in various stages of assembly across Airbus supply chains in Europe, the United States and China, including A321neo units awaiting delivery. Aircraft already in service that are not corrected before handover will need in-service inspections and rework over the coming years.

The defect had not been reported previously. Airbus said it is not a safety problem for operators or passengers.

The disclosure adds pressure to Airbus's medium-term delivery rate. The manufacturer has not publicly detailed how the rework will be scheduled or what effect it may have on its annual targets.