Cathay Pacific to Reintroduce Entire Airbus A350 Fleet Post Repairs

Cathay Pacific Airways will return all its Airbus A350s to operation by Saturday following engine fuel line repairs. The A350-1000 series encountered an in-flight engine issue, prompting precautionary inspections by other airlines. Repairs led to cancellation of 45 regional flights, but most of the fleet has been cleared for service.

Cathay Pacific Airways has announced plans to return its entire Airbus A350 fleet to operational status by Saturday, following comprehensive fuel line repairs. The urgency arose after an in-flight engine component failure on one of its A350-1000 aircraft led to a forced landing.

The incident prompted the airline to conduct precautionary inspections, resulting in the repair of six aircraft and the anticipated return of nine more by week's end. This maintenance schedule caused Cathay to cancel 45 regional flights this week.

Other airlines with A350 fleets, including Tokyo-based Japan Airlines and Taiwan's Starlux, are conducting their own inspections and consulting Rolls-Royce for guidance. Despite the scrutiny, Rolls-Royce has not mandated fleet-wide inspections for the A350 engines. Analyst concerns have lessened, with Rolls-Royce shares stabilizing after an initial drop.

(With inputs from agencies.)