Airlines Inspect Airbus A350 Fleets

By Anna Chaberska and Alban Kacher

(Reuters) – Several airlines are conducting precautionary inspections of their Airbus A350 fleets after Cathay Pacific discovered issues with 15 planes requiring fuel line repairs due to an in-flight engine part failure.

The incident involved a five-year-old Airbus A350-1000 equipped with Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB-97 engines. Some airlines are also inspecting the A350-900, which uses a different engine model.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated visual checks and measurements on the fuel houses in A350-1000 engines, allowing airlines from three to 30 days to comply. The A350-900 is not impacted.

A350-1000 Inspections

• Cathay Pacific: Operates 48 A350 jets and identified 15 aircraft needing engine component replacements, aimed for completion by Saturday. Specific models under repair were not disclosed.
• Japan Airlines (JAL): Inspected its five new A350-1000 jets and found no defects, planning further inspections based on a Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin.
• Qatar Airways: Initiating inspections on its 24 A350-1000s following directives from EASA and Rolls-Royce.
• Etihad Airways: Inspecting its five A350-1000s without finding any issues thus far.
• Virgin Atlantic: Operating 12 A350-1000s, has received an Airworthiness Directive for inspections, claiming minimal disruptions to its flight schedule.
• British Airways: Owns 18 A350-1000s but has not commented on the situation.

A350-900 Inspections

• Japan Airlines: Conducted voluntary inspections on A350-900s, noting no issues.
• Air China: Performing general engine checks as part of its maintenance protocol.
• Singapore Airlines: Has a fleet of 63 A350-900 planes and is conducting inspections, reporting no impact on operations.
• Delta Air Lines: With 30 A350-900s, assures that safety and reliability remain a priority in operations.
• Thai Airways: Continuously reviewing and conducting regular engine checks on their 23 A350-900s.