Airbus has alerted customers to a quality defect in the fuselage structure of some A321neo jets, a problem that could affect more than 500 aircraft. The issue involves a deviation in surface protection on stringers in the lower forward fuselage, but Airbus says it poses no safety risk and aircraft can continue operating.
The defect is understood to affect roughly 250 aircraft already in service and about 250 still in production. Airbus has identified and contained the source of the problem, and a remedy is available. The issue was discovered during standard rework on the production line.
The A321XLR is not affected. The new defect is the second fuselage-related quality issue to hit the A321neo family in about nine months, coming after earlier panel defects reported in December. It also adds pressure to Airbus’s production and delivery schedule, particularly for aircraft still moving through the factory flow.