Airbus, Rolls to brief airlines as pressure for A350 checks eases

By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) – Airlines will likely be told there is no immediate need for global checks on the Airbus A350-1000, ending days of uncertainty after an engine emergency prompted Cathay Pacific to review its fleet, two people familiar with the matter said.

Barring last-minute changes as investigators examine parts from an A350 that returned to base on Monday, Airbus and engine maker Rolls-Royce (OTC:RYCEY) are expected to move to allay wider safety concerns in their first briefings to carriers on Thursday.

Airbus declined comment and referred queries to Hong Kong investigators, who could not be reached. Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Although the stance suggests the incident is increasingly being seen as isolated, it is too early to rule out further findings or analysis that may eventually require action by other airlines, the people said, asking not to be identified.

A final decision rests with regulators. It was not immediately clear whether the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had formally endorsed a decision to refrain from recommending fleet action, which can cause delays and downtime.

“We have no further comment at this stage as we are still completing our assessment,” an EASA spokesperson said.