Europe's aviation safety regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has issued a directive requiring airlines to conduct one-time inspections of fuel hoses on specific Airbus A350 aircraft. The decision follows an in-flight engine fire aboard a Cathay Pacific A350-1000 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on September 1, 2023. The fire occurred shortly after the plane took off from Hong Kong, bound for Zurich.

Cathay Pacific Airways has grounded its entire Airbus A350 fleet for inspections after an engine component failure on a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich. The issue, identified during flight CX383, prompted the airline to cancel 24 flights and conduct a thorough check of its 48 A350 aircraft.

The problem, reportedly linked to a fuel nozzle in the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine, marks the first such failure on any A350 worldwide. Cathay secured spare parts for necessary repairs and is working closely with Rolls-Royce, Airbus, and regulators to address the issue.

United Airlines has officially commenced service with its first Airbus A321neo, marking a significant addition to its fleet. The inaugural flight took off last Thursday from Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport to Chicago O'Hare. For now, the aircraft will operate routes between O'Hare and Phoenix, as well as between O'Hare and Fort Lauderdale.

United has placed firm orders for 130 A321neos, with 30 expected to be delivered by the end of the next year. The airline's configuration for these planes includes 20 first-class seats, 57 Economy Plus seats, and 123 economy seats.