HONG KONG- Cathay Pacific (CX) has launched a comprehensive inspection of its entire Airbus A350 fleet following a critical Rolls-Royce engine component failure.
The Hong Kong-based airline identified the issue after flight CX383 to Zurich (ZRH) returned to Hong Kong (HKG) on September 2.
Cathay Pacific A350 Engine Issues
The carrier reports this component failure marks the first occurrence of its kind on any A350 aircraft worldwide. In response, Cathay Pacific initiated a fleetwide inspection of its 48 A350s as a precautionary measure.
The inspection, scheduled for completion on September 2, revealed multiple instances of the same engine component requiring replacement across the fleet. Cathay Pacific has secured the necessary spare parts and commenced repair work.
Cathay Pacific’s A350 fleet consists of 18 A350-1000s equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and 30 A350-900s powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines.
The affected A350-1000 aircraft, registered as B-LXI, entered service with Cathay Pacific in February 2019. It has accumulated 22,036 flight hours across 2,839 cycles.
The inspection and repair process is expected to ground several A350s for multiple days. As a result, Cathay Pacific has canceled 24 return flights through September 3.
Keith Brown, Cathay Pacific’s Director of Engineering, emphasized the thoroughness of the inspection process. He stated that aircraft cleared for operation will resume service, while those identified with technical issues will undergo further maintenance.
Cathay Pacific is actively collaborating with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce to address the situation.
Financial Implications
Cathay Pacific’s A350 engine component failure has triggered financial consequences for Rolls-Royce and Airbus. Rolls-Royce shares dropped by 3.9%, while Airbus experienced a 1.9% decline following Cathay’s announcement.
Cathay Pacific has notified both Airbus and Rolls-Royce about the situation. The airline adheres strictly to Rolls-Royce’s maintenance guidelines to ensure compliance and safety. Rolls-Royce representatives have not yet responded to comment requests. Airbus has redirected inquiries to the airline and engine manufacturer.
The A350, a key competitor to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and 777 models, forms a crucial part of Cathay’s long-haul fleet. The aircraft utilizes advanced composite materials for enhanced efficiency and comes in two variants: the -900 and the larger -1000.
Earlier on August 31, 2024, a Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) flight bound for Hong Kong (HKG) experienced a critical engine failure during takeoff at Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) in Taiwan. The incident occurred on Saturday morning, forcing the Airbus A330-300 to abort its departure.
Eyewitness footage captured on social media shows flames and smoke erupting from the aircraft’s right engine moments after it began its takeoff roll. The plane veered right before the pilots corrected its course and brought it to a stop midway down the runway.
Passengers reported hearing a loud bang before the aircraft halted.
What are your thoughts on these new engine issues affecting Airbus A350s? Will it impact other carriers? Let us know in the comments.
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