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Cannix Yau

Denise Tsang

Lo Hoi-ying

Deformed fuel lines used to transfer fuel to Cathay Pacific Airways’ fleet of A350 aircraft are behind an engine part failure that has forced Hong Kong’s flag carrier to cancel 68 flights this week, the Post has learned.
Cathay Pacific completed inspections of its Airbus A350 fleet on Monday night and found 15 of the 48 aircraft had the Rolls-Royce engine part that required replacement.
A well-informed source said on Tuesday that multiple small fuel manifolds surrounded an aircraft engine for fuel delivery and Cathay’s inspection revealed a number of fuel pipes exhibited some “form of distortion”.
Once the deformed fuel lines were replaced, the planes could resume service, the insider said, adding the carrier was under “no mandate” from the manufacturer or any regulator to inspect or replace the pipes.
“These parts are not intended to be checked or replaced during regular maintenance on the line. So it is not in any way a maintenance failure or oversight,” the source said.
The insider said Cathay, as the world’s third-largest A350 operator and one of the model’s earliest adopters, had a responsibility to share its safety findings with manufacturers, regulators and other airlines.
The carrier said three A350 aircraft had already been repaired and vowed that all affected ones would resume operation by Saturday.
Cathay announced on Monday it had grounded its entire fleet of A350 aircraft after discovering the “first-of-its-kind problem” with the engine part. Engineers identified the failure after Zurich-bound flight CX383 returned to Hong Kong following take off early on Monday morning.
The airline discovered the issue “probably because it is a heavy user of the model”, the source said. Along with Cathay, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines are among carriers that operate large A350 fleets.


A mainland Chinese media outlet reported on Tuesday that the Civil Aviation Administration of China had initiated an investigation into whether A350 aircraft operating in the country required inspection, citing the management of several domestic airlines.
According to the report, the mainland’s fleet of A350s numbered 78 and they were operated by four airlines. Although all of them were equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, the specific model varied depending on the airline.
Cathay has cancelled 68 flights so far this week, including 48 on Monday and Tuesday and another 20 on Wednesday. Confirming Post reporting, the airline said on Tuesday afternoon it would cancel 10 return flights on Wednesday but added these were regional ones and long-haul services “would not be affected”.
The airline said all affected customers had been informed and offered alternative travel options.
It also pledged that customers would be notified by Wednesday afternoon of any new cancellation of flights in the coming days.
Checks by the Post found that at least 10 Cathay flights on Wednesday bound for Kaohsiung, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul and the mainland cities of Beijing and Shanghai had been cancelled.
The corresponding return flights were also scrapped, according to information on the Hong Kong International Airport website.
The flights were not included in the list of 48 cancellations published by the airline on Monday night.
An insider familiar with the matter said the cancelled flights were mostly short-haul routes with alternative flights and fewer passengers.




The source added Cathay would ensure long-haul flights such as those to London would not be affected, so international student passengers could start the new school term on time.
But travellers affected by the cancellations have complained about poor customer service as they scrambled to rebook flights.
They told the Post they were informed of the cancellations at around 9.30pm on Monday, with many panicking to make last-minute travel arrangements.
Hairstylist Shum Sai-cheong, who was travelling with six others to attend an expo in the city state, said he had liaised with Cathay’s customer service until midnight.
“We were supposed to take the 8am flight to Singapore and were getting ready to sleep when we received notice of the cancellation,” he said. “The email provided no alternatives and we were left waiting on the hotline for over an hour.”
Australian native Deone Masonga, 58, was looking forward to boarding her first flight with Cathay to Singapore, said the handling of the cancellation left her with a bad impression.
Customer service staff had asked her to provide her booking details but closed the chat after 30 seconds when she did not respond and she only went to sleep at 3am after managing to find seats for her and her husband on a Singapore Airlines flight.
“Now I get to take a better airline,” she said.
Heero Wong, who works in finance, said he rebooked a seat on a flight to Singapore departing on Wednesday.
“I just booked another ticket on Singapore Airlines immediately last night,” the 36-year-old said. “I don’t even know if I can get a refund for my Cathay booking.”
Keith Brown, Cathay’s engineering director, earlier apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused.
“Upon completion, the aircraft cleared for operation will return to service, while those identified with technical issues will undergo further repair and maintenance work,” he said on Monday evening.
“Meanwhile, we are liaising with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and the aircraft and engine manufacturers.”


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Cathay Pacific

Deformed fuel lines behind A350 engine problems at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific

A Cathay Pacific A350-900 on the tarmac of Hong Kong International Airport. All 48 planes of the carrier’s A350 fleet have been grounded. Photo: Roy Issa

Passengers complain about poor service after Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific cancels 48 flights

Cathay Pacific has said it will cancel 48 flights. Photo: Sam Tsang

Cathay Pacific’s check-in counters at the airport operated as usual on Tuesday morning. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s Cathay grounds A350 fleet due to engine component failure, axes 48 flights

The airline says it has cancelled 48 flights operating up until the end of Tuesday. Photo: Jonathan Wong

One of Cathay’s A350-900 aircraft. In May 2022, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive for the Airbus A350-900 and 1000 aircraft. Photo: Reuters 

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Cathay completes inspections of all 48 of its grounded A350 fleet and finds 15 planes with affected engine components that require replacement


Cathay completes inspections of all 48 of its grounded A350 fleet and finds 15 planes with affected engine components that require replacement.


Hong Kong aviation

Airbus

Hong Kong International Airport

Airbus A350