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Data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24 showed that other major operators of the A350-1000 and the smaller, more popular A350-900 were still flying their planes on Tuesday.
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Rolls-Royce has not yet issued guidance to airlines about potential inspections, according to an industry source who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
This step is usually the first indication of formal instructions from regulators, although these authorities can act independently.
Japan Airlines (JAL), which owns five A350-1000s, said it had asked Rolls-Royce for more information, and had not grounded A350 flights at the same time.
“If the engine manufacturer takes any further action, we will respond accordingly,” a Japan Airlines spokesman said.
Cathay Pacific said it had secured spare parts for the components that needed to be replaced. Rolls-Royce said the replacement could be done while the engine remained on the wing.
The engine manufacturer said it was committed to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus and investigators in Hong Kong, where the safety agency confirmed it had launched an investigation.
Cathay Pacific did not specify which component of the engine had failed, but the company said it was “the first such failure on any Airbus A350 aircraft worldwide.”
A person familiar with the matter said the incident involved a leak in a system designed to inject fuel into the engine.
The system consists of a tube that feeds fuel from an inlet point or manifold to a nozzle that sprays fuel into the combustion chamber, the hot inner core of the engine.
Partially burned parts are being analysed at Rolls-Royce facilities on behalf of investigators in Hong Kong, but no leaks have been found so far in other engines, sources said.
There are 86 A350-1000 aircraft in operation worldwide.credit: Kate Geraghty
Such problems are rare, experts say, but barring a deeper defect, they generally raise less alarm than the failure of a major rotating part such as a turbine blade.
However, any additional extensive inspections could be disruptive to airlines at a time when engine repair shops are already crowded following increased wear on modern engines, particularly Pratt & Whitney engines on smaller Airbus aircraft.
Airbus said it was providing “full technical support.”
“precautionary measure”
According to Airbus data, there are 86 Airbus A350-1000s in operation worldwide, compared with 526 Airbus A350-900s. Together, these aircraft compete with the Boeing 787 and 777 on long-haul routes. Cathay operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
The list of A350-1000 operators includes Qatar Airways with 24, British Airways, owned by International Airlines Group, with 18, Cathay Pacific also with 18, Virgin Atlantic with 12, and Etihad Airways and Japan Airlines with five each.
Qatar Airways said its fleet of 24 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft was not affected and that it continued to monitor developments.
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Although the parts failure occurred on one of its 18 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, Cathay Pacific said it was also inspecting its 30 smaller Airbus A350-900 aircraft “as a precaution”.
She said she “identified a number of the same engine components that needed to be replaced.”
Malaysia's national carrier, which also has A350-900s in its fleet, has consulted Airbus and is operating normally, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said.
Singapore Airlines said it was reviewing the engines on its A350-900s but there was no impact on flights. The airline does not operate any A350-1000s.
Cathay Pacific shares ended the day down 0.6 percent.
Reuters
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