Qantas is preparing to seek compensation from Rolls Royce for problems with its A380 engines.
The airline has filed a statement of claim to ensure it can take legal action against the manufacturer if it fails to reach a commercial settlement.
Investigations have identified that a misaligned component of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine was to blame for problems last month, which forced Qantas to ground its fleet of A380s for several weeks.
Australian investigators said: "This condition could lead to an elevated risk of fatigue crack initiation and growth, oil leakage and potential catastrophic engine failure from a resulting oil fire."
In a statement, Qantas said it had “commenced discussions with Rolls-Royce on a range of issues concerning the A380 fleet, including financial and operational impacts, as a consequence of the QF32 Trent 900 engine failure on 4 November 2010, and will also consider legal options.
“The airline has today filed a statement of claim and been granted an injunction by the Federal Court of Australia which will ensure that the company can pursue legal action against Rolls-Royce in Australia, particularly under the Trade Practices Act, if a commercial settlement is not possible."
By Bev Fearis
