Cathay Pacific Inspects Airbus A350 Fleet After Engine Failure Incident

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways is inspecting its fleet of Airbus A350 jets following an in-flight engine part failure on Monday. The airline has taken preventive measures, but other carriers have not yet been instructed to inspect similar engines.

Flight Cancellations and Inspections:

Cathay Pacific has canceled 24 return flights through the end of Wednesday to allow time for thorough inspections of its 48 Rolls-Royce-powered A350s. This action was taken after a component on one of its A350-1000 widebody planes failed just minutes after takeoff from Hong Kong.

Despite Cathay Pacific’s proactive approach, other major A350-1000 and smaller A350-900 operators continued flying their aircraft on Tuesday, according to data from FlightRadar24. Japan Airlines (JAL), which operates five A350-1000s, confirmed that it had requested more information from Rolls-Royce but had not halted its A350 flights. A JAL spokesperson stated, “If the engine manufacturer takes any further action, we will respond accordingly.”

Rolls-Royce’s Response and Investigation:

Rolls-Royce, the engine manufacturer, has not yet issued any inspection directives to airlines. The company acknowledged the incident and expressed its commitment to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus, and relevant authorities on the investigation.

Cathay Pacific has not disclosed which engine component failed but mentioned it was the first such incident on any A350 aircraft worldwide. According to a source familiar with the situation, the issue involved a fuel nozzle in the XWB-97 engine used on the A350-1000 model. Experts suggest that while such failures are rare, they are generally less alarming than issues with major rotating parts like turbine blades. However, widespread inspections could cause disruptions for airlines.

Airbus and Other Operators’ Actions:

Airbus has stated that it is in contact with Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific and will provide “full technical support” during the investigation.

Taiwan’s China Airlines, which operates 15 A350-900s but no A350-1000s, confirmed that its fleet uses different engines and will not be affected by the issue. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety, stating it would continue to monitor the situation and conduct any necessary tests.

Although the failure occurred on an A350-1000 jet, Cathay Pacific is also inspecting its 30 A350-900s as a precaution. The airline has identified several engine components that require replacement, though it has not specified which aircraft models are affected.

Global A350-1000 Fleet and Market Reactions:

There are approximately 88 A350-1000 jets in operation worldwide, with Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic, and Etihad Airways being the top operators. Several of these airlines have yet to respond to inquiries about their responses to the incident.

Cathay Pacific shares dropped by as much as 0.9% on Tuesday, while Rolls-Royce shares fell by 6.5% on Monday. According to Cirium flight schedule data, the flight cancellations between Hong Kong and various destinations, including Sydney, Osaka, Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, and Singapore, represent around 2.4% of Cathay Pacific’s scheduled weekly flights in September.