Cathay Pacific Grounds Airbus A350s

Cathay Pacific has temporarily grounded Airbus A350s as it investigates engine problems following a flight returning to Hong Kong.

The airline says that engine components are affecting its Airbus A350 fleet. Flight CX383 returned to Hong Kong following what was intended to be a routine flight to Zurich, Switzerland.

Bloomberg reports that the flight, which was Airbus A350-1000, specifically encountered engine troubles, requiring subsequent inspections.

The entire fleet—some 48 units — is being inspected, specifically the component that failed, with the intention of moving forward with a replacement.

Therefore, flights on the Airbus A350 are being cancelled through September 3 local time, which is having a considerable impact on the airline’s business, from internal functionality to its customers.

Correcting these latest issues isn’t expected to take a long time, as Cathay Pacific already has the required spare parts to perform the work.

This stance of the Hong Kong-based carrier does mark a change from the typical commentary from airlines facing difficulty with engines recently.

Ongoing supply chain issues, paired with the Pratt & Whitney engine crisis, have led several executives to be very vocal about their frustrations surrounding the availability of parts, maintenance, and more.

Furthermore, Cathay Pacific’s decision to only have these aircraft on the ground for a short period as it implements the required fix is a significant positive for the business.

Additionally, it reflects well on Rolls-Royce, the engine maker, that the problem can be quickly resolved when there is a fault, unlike counterparts in the industry, such as the Geared Turbofan engines with Pratt & Whitney.

Ultimately, while the temporary grounding can be considered a hefty decision, it is also precautionary, as the airline stated, as it wants to ensure the highest standard across its fleet.

While no specific timeframe has been provided concerning when the fix will be implemented fleet-wide, the airline is standing true to its word that it will be a short-term grounding and is already working to fix the problem.