Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, has cancelled numerous flights after a plane en route from the city to Zurich had to turn back due to an “engine component failure.” The airline is now inspecting all 48 of its Airbus A350 aircraft as a precaution, and faulty parts have been discovered in some of the engines that need replacement.
The engines in question are Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB-97, as confirmed by the company to the BBC.
Since Monday, Cathay Pacific has canceled around two dozen return flights, affecting routes between Hong Kong and cities such as Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, and Taipei. The airline expects the disruptions to persist until at least Wednesday.
Cathay Pacific noted that the engine component failure that led to the plane’s return to Hong Kong was the first of its kind on any A350 aircraft globally.
“Thus far we have identified a number of the same engine components that need to be replaced, spare parts have been secured and repair work is underway,” the airline said in a statement.
“As a result, a number of aircraft will be out of service for several days while this process is being completed and Cathay Pacific’s operating schedules will be affected.”
The airline expects the inspection of its A350 fleet to be completed later on Tuesday.
Cathay Pacific took delivery of its Airbus A350 aircraft in 2016, which are equipped with fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines.
“We are committed to working closely with the airline, aircraft manufacturer and the relevant authorities to support their investigation into this incident,” Rolls-Royce told BBC News.
Shares of the UK-based engineering giant Rolls-Royce dropped by over 6% during Monday’s trading session in London. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to invest in enhancing its range of engines, including the Trent XWB-97. In 2023, Tim Clark, the CEO of Gulf carrier Emirates, raised concerns about the engine’s durability and criticized the high costs Rolls-Royce charged for maintenance.
