Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has been forced to cancel 24 return flights due to a problem with a Rolls-Royce engine. The issue, suspected to be deformed or degraded fuel lines, has led to the grounding of several of Cathay’s Airbus A350s. The airline is conducting precautionary checks on its fleet, with some aircraft expected to be out of service for several days. Shares in Rolls-Royce fell by 6.5% following the news. Despite the cancellations, other major operators of the A350-1000 and A350-900 planes have not grounded their aircraft, according to flight tracking data. Rolls-Royce is working closely with Cathay Pacific and the relevant authorities to investigate the issue, which is believed to be isolated to the engine fuel nozzle.
Cathay Pacific’s cancellations have affected flights across Asia, including services to Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, and Taipei. The airline is addressing the problem after a part failed on one of its A350-1000 planes, prompting a return to Hong Kong. Cathay’s engineering director, Keith Brown, assured that each aircraft is undergoing rigorous inspections, with the grounded aircraft expected to be back in service after repairs. Other airlines using Rolls-Royce engines, like Japan Airlines, are awaiting more information before taking action. Despite the setbacks, analysts at Morgan Stanley believe that the issue with Rolls-Royce’s XWB-97 engine is not a widespread problem and should be resolved quickly. Cathay Pacific is working diligently to resolve the issue and has apologized for the inconvenience caused to customers.
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