Aviation

Cathay Pacific Grounds entire A350 Fleet Over Engine Defect, Cancels Multiple Flights

Cathay Pacific Grounds A350 Fleet Over Engine Defect, Cancels Multiple Flights

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways has taken the unprecedented step of grounding its entire Airbus A350 fleet following the in-flight failure of an engine component on one of its aircraft.

The incident occurred on a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich, where an a350-1000 model was forced to return to Hong Kong on Monday morning due to the engine issue. In response to the incident, Cathay Pacific swiftly inspected all 48 of its Rolls-Royce-powered A350 aircraft, uncovering that 15 of them required component replacements.

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The airline confirmed that three of these aircraft had already undergone successful repairs. Despite the urgency of the situation, Cathay Pacific has stated that it expects all affected jets to return to service by Saturday.

As a result of these inspections and necessary repairs, Cathay Pacific has had to cancel at least 34 round-trip flights, affecting routes to major destinations including Bangkok, Tokyo, Taipei, and Osaka. This disruption has caused significant inconvenience to passengers and highlights the airline’s commitment to safety and precaution.

The airline revealed that the engine component failure identified on the Zurich-bound flight was the first of its kind to occur on any a350 size comparison aircraft worldwide. This led to a precautionary fleet-wide inspection, which confirmed the need for immediate component replacements on multiple aircraft. Each of the grounded planes is undergoing rigorous inspection and maintenance, with cleared aircraft returning to service as repairs are completed.

Cathay Pacific, one of the largest operators of the A350, has been working closely with Rolls-Royce, the engine manufacturer, and relevant authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly. Rolls-Royce has expressed its commitment to supporting the investigation and ensuring the safety and reliability of the engines.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.