AIRBUS SE The two groups are engaged in a legal battle as the Doha-based airline, citing a safety issue, accuses Airbus of design defects (paint degradation, erosion of the protective layer) on its A350 aircraft.
But two sources said that the tone between the two groups seemed to be calmer, and that negotiations were gathering pace following discussions at political level and an uneventful meeting between the two parties and their respective representatives in Doha last week.
"There will be an agreement", said one of the sources, while the other warned that talks were still ongoing.
Airbus and Qatar Airways had no immediate comment.
The dispute between the European aircraft manufacturer and the Qatari airline has been brought to the attention of the leaders of France and Qatar, two countries which enjoy close relations.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters this month that President Emmanuel Macron and Qatari Emir Tamim ben Hamad al Thani had discussed the matter in recent weeks.
An official at the Elysée Palace said on Tuesday he had no comment at this stage.
The Qatari government press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reported by Tim Hepher, Michel Rose and Andrew Mills, Blandine Hénault for the French version, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
