Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship airline, has announced the cancellation of numerous flights following an emergency incident involving one of its planes. A flight bound for Zurich had to turn back to Hong Kong due to an engine component failure, prompting the airline to take immediate action.
As a precaution, Cathay Pacific is conducting inspections on its entire fleet of 48 Airbus A350 aircraft. Initial findings have indicated that the faulty component is present in some other engines, necessitating replacement. This situation has led to the cancellation of approximately two dozen return flights, impacting major routes to cities such as Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, and Taipei.
The airline anticipates that disruptions will persist at least until Wednesday. Cathay Pacific has indicated that the specific engine issue encountered is unprecedented, marking the first instance of its kind within the A350 fleet. The airline has affirmed its commitment to promptly replacing the affected engine components, having secured spare parts and commenced repair work.
Due to these maintenance efforts, multiple aircraft will remain out of service for several days, inevitably affecting flight schedules. Cathay Pacific expects to complete the inspections of its A350 fleet soon. The airline first introduced the Airbus A350 into service in 2016, with these aircraft featuring fuel-efficient engines supplied by Rolls-Royce.
The airline is collaborating with aircraft manufacturers and relevant authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly. Other operators of the A350 include several major international airlines. Earlier this year, concerns regarding engine longevity and maintenance costs were raised by industry leaders, highlighting ongoing discussions within aviation regarding engine reliability.
