Cathay Pacific grounds planes after engine problem

Hong Kong’s flagship hose Cathay Pacific has cancelled tens of flights after a level heading from the metropolis to Zurich was forced to crook astir owed to an "engine constituent failure".

The institution says it has present inspected each 48 of its Airbus A350s and recovered 15 craft with faulty parts that needed to beryllium replaced.

The planes' Trent XWB-97 engines were made by British engineering elephantine Rolls-Royce.

Since Monday, Cathay Pacific has cancelled astir 70 flights, including routes linking Hong Kong to Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei.

Cathay Pacific said the disruptions volition proceed until astatine slightest Saturday.

"At Cathay, information of our customers and our radical guides each determination we make," the hose said.

"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and admit our customers’ patience and understanding."

Airbus did not instantly respond to a BBC petition for comment.

Cathay Pacific took transportation of its archetypal Airbus A350 craft successful 2016. The planes are equipped with fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines.

Rolls-Royce told BBC News that "it is committed to moving intimately with the airline, craft shaper and the applicable authorities to enactment their efforts."

"As good arsenic providing enactment and guidance to Cathay Pacific, Rolls-Royce volition besides support different airlines that run Trent XWB-97 engines afloat informed of immoderate applicable developments arsenic appropriate."

Cathay Pacific's A350s besides service destinations successful Europe and North America.

In a connection the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it is “monitoring immoderate accusation coming retired of the method probe and volition instrumentality decisions connected immoderate fleet level enactment arsenic required.”

Other airlines that run A350s see British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines. The BBC has contacted the companies for comment.

This year, Rolls-Royce announced plans to put heavy to amended its scope of engines, including the Trent XWB-97.

In 2023, Tim Clark, the brag of gulf bearer Emirates, voiced concerns astir the durability of the motor and the prices Rolls-Royce charged for maintenance.