Cathay Pacific Cancels Flights to Inspect 48 Airbus Aircraft After Engine Issue

Airbus A350-1041 Cathay Pacific Airways B-LXI - Copyright © AirTeamImages.com

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific announced on Monday (02) that it would be conducting inspections on its fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft after discovering an engine component issue. This decision, which has led to flight cancellations and delays, comes after a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich encountered the problem.

The airline stated, "This component was the first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide." In response, Cathay Pacific began a precautionary inspection of 48 of its Airbus A350s, a process that the airline expects to complete by the end of Monday.

"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 added. The inspection and necessary repairs are being conducted as a proactive measure to ensure its fleet's continued safety and reliability.

The affected Trent XWB-97 engine powers Airbus A350 aircraft manufactured by Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce acknowledged the incident but declined to provide further details, citing an active investigation.

As a result of the inspections, some planes will be grounded for several days, leading to delays in the airline’s operations. Cathay Pacific has cancelled 24 return flights, with more disruptions expected as the inspections continue.

According to our data, the flight in question, CX383, departed Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 00:15 HKT and landed in Zurich (ZRH) on time at 20:06 CEST. Despite the on-time arrival, the engine issue prompted Cathay Pacific to take immediate action to prevent further occurrences.

Cathay Pacific flight CX383 from Hong Kong to Zurich

The Hong Kong-based airline is working diligently to minimize the impact on passengers and ensure that affected flights resume as soon as possible. Passengers are advised to check Cathay Pacific’s website and flight status updates for the latest information on their flights.