Cathay Pacific Grounds Planes Over Engine Issue

Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, has cancelled tens of flights following the forced return of a plane heading from the city to Zurich due to an "engine component failure."

Cathay Pacific said the disruptions will continue until Saturday.

"At Cathay, safety of our customers and our people guides every decision we make."

"We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding," the airline said.

The company says it has now inspected all 48 of its Airbus A350s and found 15 aircraft with faulty parts that needed to be replaced.

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

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

In 2016, Cathay Pacific received its first Airbus A350 aircraft, which are powered by fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Rolls-Royce has expressed its commitment to collaborating closely with the airline, the aircraft manufacturer, and relevant authorities to support their efforts. The company stated, "In addition to providing support and guidance to Cathay Pacific, Rolls-Royce will also keep other airlines operating Trent XWB-97 engines fully informed of any relevant developments."

Cathay Pacific's A350s operate on routes to Europe and North America. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a statement saying it is "monitoring any information arising from the technical investigation and will take necessary fleet-wide actions if required."

Other airlines that operate A350s include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The BBC has reached out to these companies for comment. Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce announced plans to make significant investments in enhancing its engine range, including the Trent XWB-97.

In 2023, Tim Clark, the boss of gulf carrier Emirates, voiced concerns about the durability of the engine and the prices Rolls-Royce charged for maintenance.

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