More airlines report A350 paint issues
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At least six airlines have expressed concerns over paint and surface flaws on Airbus A350 jets that in some cases has made visible a sub-layer of mesh designed to absorb lightning
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AIRBUS A350 XWB 
(Extra-wide body)

Airframe: Mainly composed of carbon  composite – non-conductive material means aircraft requires lightning strike protection

Airlines reporting paint flaws (number of A350s in fleet*) 

Qatar Airways (Qatar)
Grounded: 20    53

Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong) 43

Lufthansa (Germany) 18

Finnair (Finland) 16

Air Caraibes (France) 5

Etihad Airways (UAE) 5
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A350 XWB composite structures

Fuselage panels

Nacelles

Wing skins

Tail assembly

Paint

Metallic mesh layer
Dissipates lightning strikes but makes it harder to get paint to stick

External skin of aircraft

SURFACE STRUCTURE

*Active, parked or stored (as of Nov 30, 2021) 
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Sources: Airbus, Planespotters.net, Reuters
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