Cathay Pacific conducts a thorough inspection of its entire A350 fleet following the discovery of engine issues
2 weeks ago
Cathay Pacific conducts a thorough inspection of its entire A350 fleet following the discovery of engine issues
Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, has canceled dozens of flights after a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich was forced to turn back due to an “engine component failure.”
Following this incident, the airline conducted inspections on all 48 of its Airbus A350 aircraft, discovering that 15 of them had defective parts requiring replacement.
The affected planes are equipped with Trent XWB-97 engines, manufactured by British engineering firm Rolls-Royce.
Since Monday, nearly 70 flights have been canceled, affecting routes between Hong Kong and cities such as Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei. Cathay Pacific expects these disruptions to persist until at least Saturday.
"At Cathay, the safety of our customers and staff is at the core of every decision we make," the airline stated. "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding."
Airbus has not yet responded to requests for comment from the BBC.
Cathay Pacific first received its Airbus A350 aircraft in 2016, which are known for their fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Rolls-Royce, in a statement to BBC News, affirmed its commitment to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus, and relevant authorities to address the issue. The company also pledged to keep other airlines operating Trent XWB-97 engines informed of any significant developments.
Cathay Pacific’s A350s are also used on routes to Europe and North America.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it is “monitoring information from the technical investigation” and will take any necessary fleet-wide actions.
Other airlines operating A350s include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines, all of whom have been contacted by the BBC for comment.
Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce announced plans for substantial investment to enhance its range of engines, including the Trent XWB-97. In 2023, Emirates CEO Tim Clark expressed concerns over the durability of the engine and the costs associated with its maintenance by Rolls-Royce.
Source: BBC / Aviation Voice