Cathay Pacific cancels 70 flights after engine failure on an Airbus A350, impacting routes to major Asia-Pacific destinations.
Hong Kong‘s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, has canceled nearly 70 flights since Monday after an Airbus A350 bound for Zurich was forced to return to Hong Kong due to an “engine component failure”, according to BBC. The aircraft was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, which have now been inspected across the airline’s entire A350 fleet.
Following the incident, Cathay Pacific inspected all 48 of its Airbus A350 planes and identified faulty components in 15 aircraft, prompting the airline to cancel flights linking Hong Kong with key destinations, including Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and Taipei. The disruptions are expected to continue until at least Saturday.
The airline has apologized to passengers for the inconvenience, emphasizing its commitment to safety. “At Cathay, safety of our customers and our people guides every decision we make,” Cathay Pacific said in a statement. “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding.”
Rolls-Royce and Airbus Involvement
The Trent XWB-97 engines, developed by British engineering firm Rolls-Royce, power Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A350s. Rolls-Royce has stated its commitment to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus, and relevant authorities to resolve the issue. A company spokesperson said, “As well as providing support and guidance to Cathay Pacific, Rolls-Royce will also keep other airlines that operate Trent XWB-97 engines fully informed of any relevant developments as appropriate.”
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) confirmed that it is monitoring the technical investigation and will take any necessary fleet-level action based on the findings.
Broader Industry Impact
Other major airlines operating Airbus A350s, including Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and British Airways, are taking precautionary measures. Singapore Airlines has begun inspecting the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines that power its Airbus A350-900 fleet, although the airline has reported no impact on its flight operations. Japan Airlines has announced that it will inspect its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft during scheduled maintenance but does not foresee flight cancellations.
Qatar Airways has stated that its Airbus A350-1000 fleet has not been impacted but will monitor developments closely.
Rolls-Royce’s Response and Future Investment
This latest incident has drawn attention to the durability of Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines, a topic of concern within the aviation industry. Earlier this year, Tim Clark, President of Emirates, criticized the longevity of the Trent engines and expressed concerns over the high maintenance costs. Rolls-Royce, however, has committed to significant investments in improving its engine technology, including the Trent XWB-97 series.
As Cathay Pacific continues to work through the current disruption, the airline has expressed its determination to resume normal flight operations as soon as possible.
George is the News Feed Manager, Content Creator, and Social Media Manager at the TravelDailyNews network of online newspapers. At the same time, he is completing his studies in the Department of Business Administration at the Athens University of Economics and Business.
