Cathay Pacific has advised that maintenance activity on its Airbus A350 fleet continues to progress well with 15 aircraft were identified with engine fuel lines that require replacement.
Of these, six have already undergone successful repairs and are cleared to operate. The remaining nine aircraft will be repaired and are expected to resume operation by Saturday, 7 September.
Further to flight cancellations announced so far, Cathay Pacific expects to cancel 11 additional regional return flights from 5 to 7 September. All affected customers have been informed and provided with alternative travel options on Cathay Pacific and other airlines as appropriate. The airline has increased its resources at its Customer Care centre and at the airport to better look after affected customers. Please refer to cathaypacific.com for the latest flight information.
“Cathay Pacific does not anticipate any further cancellations will be required,” it said in a statement.
“In total, including those previously announced, the airline cancelled 45 return flights between 2 to 7 September. Apart from one long-haul flight on 2 September, all cancelled flights are for regional destinations. Cathay Pacific sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused and appreciates customers’ patience and understanding.”
Chief operations and service delivery officer Alex McGowan said: “This was a significant situation for Cathay to manage as the engine component failure was the first of its type to occur on any A350 aircraft anywhere in the world.
“Completing thorough inspection and maintenance for all A350 aircraft within such a short timeframe has been challenging.
“The ability to safely deal with and resolve this issue reflects the can-do spirit of Cathay’s people. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our engineering and frontline teams, along with our partners, for their support and commitment to resolve the situation and minimise flight disruptions.
“I would also like to extend my apology to customers whose travel plans were affected by this incident. At Cathay, the safety of our customers and our people guides every decision we make.”
Source TravelWeekly
