The aircraft manufacturer and engine maker are expected to seek to allay safety concerns at their first briefings with carriers on Thursday.
Airlines are likely to be told there is no immediate need for comprehensive checks on the Airbus A350-1000, ending days of uncertainty after an engine failure prompted Cathay Pacific to review its fleet, two people familiar with the matter said.
Barring any last-minute changes as investigators examine parts from an A350 that returned to base Monday, Airbus and engine maker Rolls-Royce are expected to seek to allay safety concerns at their first briefings with the carriers on Thursday. Airbus declined to comment and referred questions to investigators in Hong Kong, who could not be reached. Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
EASA’s position expected
Although the position taken suggests that the incident is increasingly considered isolated, it is too early to rule out other conclusions or analyses that could eventually require action by other airlines,
said the people, who asked not to be identified.
The final decision rests with regulators. It was not immediately clear whether the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had formally endorsed the decision not to recommend action on the fleet, which could lead to delays and downtime. “We have no further comment at this stage as we are still completing our assessment,” an EASA spokesperson said.
