SriLankan Airlines is suing Airbus for $1 billion in compensation relating to bribery claims surrounding an order of six A330s, four A350s, and a further four A350s to be leased. The cancelling of the lease contracts for the four A350-900s is said to have cost the airline $98m. The amount of $1bn is being sought in respect of damages, loss of reputation and the reimbursement of costs and interests. As well as the compensation sought, SriLankan Airlines is seeking to cancel the outstanding delivery of four A350-900s and to claw back $19 million in pre-delivery payments.
This is on the back of the UK Crown Court judgment, which found Airbus guilty of bribery in relation to a number of orders. Airbus is alleged to have offered a Brunei-based straw company $16.84m in bribes relating to the SriLankan Airlines contracts.
Among many other airlines, AirAsia Group and Garuda Indonesia could potentially make similar claims against Airbus over the coming months.
In the interests of balance though it must be added that Sri Lankan Airlines has been trying to cancel aircraft orders and switch types for some time now.