Thai Airways says its fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft has experienced no engine problems and the planes are continuing to fly as normal.
The statement from Thai Airways president Chai Eamsiri comes as Cathay Pacific was forced to ground its A350 fleet, due to a faulty engine component. The discovery has led the Hong Kong flag carrier to cancel 8 of its 9 scheduled Hong Kong – Singapore flights on Tuesday, September 3.
The only Hong Kong – Singapore service operated by the airline on Tuesday was on a Boeing 777 aircraft. On the same day, Cathay cancelled nearly half its services to Bangkok and its service to Tokyo’s Narita Airport.
The Hong Kong carrier is one of the world’s biggest operators of the A350 and the flight cancellations are the result of an investigation into a brief engine fire on a flight bound for Zurich on Monday, September 2. The fire broke out shortly after take-off, with the plane forced to return to Hong Kong. The investigation that followed found the faulty engine component.
Of the Cathy Pacific flights still operating, none are using the Airbus A350. In total, 45 flights, including return sectors, have been cancelled, according to the airline.
Meanwhile, at Thai Airways, Chai says the airline’s fleet of A350s undergoes regular inspections and maintenance and no faulty engine components have been detected.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
