Slovenia’s Adria Airways is suspending operations, having become the latest major carrier to run into financial problems.
Adria Airways is halting all flights on 24-25 September, claiming that the measure is “temporary”. All services from Ljubljana, Pristina and Tirana will be halted. The carrier states that it is trying to secure fresh capital to continue flight operations. Adria says that it is “intensively searching” for a financial solution with potential – but unidentified – investors. “The aim of everyone involved is to make Adria Airways fly again,” it says. “The company deeply regrets the situation and apologises to all its passengers and partners.” It is advising passengers to check with sales offices before travelling to the airport. Adria has a mixed fleet primarily comprising Airbus A319s and Bombardier CRJs, as well as a batch of leased Saab 2000s. It was acquired by the German fund 4K Invest in 2016 but underwent a change of majority shareholder earlier this year.

Source: FlightGlobal

Investigators are probing another serious engine failure on a Swiss Airbus A220-300, less than two months after a previous similar incident involving a sister aircraft on the same route. The aircraft (HB-JCA) had been operating Geneva-London Heathrow on 16 September when the failure occurred in the left-hand Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine during climb. US National Transportation Safety Board investigators state that the incident took place just before the twinjet reached its cruising altitude of 35,000ft. The crew returned to Geneva after carrying out quick-reference handbook procedures and declaring an emergency. Inspection of the aircraft after it landed showed that the stage-one rotor in the low-pressure compressor had separated and there was a hole in the compressor case. None of the 77 occupants were injured. French investigators were already looking into the failure of the left-hand PW1500G on another Swiss A220-300, under similar circumstances, on 25 July. The aircraft (HB-JCM) had departed Geneva for Heathrow and had been climbing through 32,000ft when the failure occurred. Investigation authority BEA subsequently sought public assistance to find engine components which they believe were shed from the aircraft over France. The stage-one rotor of the low-pressure compressor was found to be missing after the jet diverted to Paris. The aircraft involved in the latest incident was delivered to Swiss in May 2017. It had been operating the LX358 service while the earlier event occurred to flight LX348.

Source: FlightGlobal

Cathay Pacific will be adding inflight and post-landing checks on emergency equipment on board its aircraft, after it uncovered six instances of tampered portable oxygen bottles. The carrier states that the six incidents occurred over a month, between August and September. The latest took place on 16 September and involved one portable oxygen bottle, which had a shut-off valve “inadvertently” opened by cabin crew during a routine check. This led to the bottle to be found in a low-pressure state. Three other instances also involved a single oxygen bottle, and were found on Cathay Dragon flights. The last two incidents occurred on the same flight, CX826 from Hong Kong to Toronto, a day apart. On 17 and 18 August, five and eight out of 22 portable oxygen bottles respectively were found to be in low pressure state. Cathay states that the issues were uncovered during routine pre- and post-flight inspections. Internal investigations into the matter are ongoing, says Cathay, and cabin crew from the flights involved have been suspended from duties. Some have since returned to work, while others are still assisting investigations. The airline has also informed the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and the police. It stressed that passenger and crew safety were compromised by the incident, and that the oxygen bottles were checked and recharged upon discovery. Portable oxygen bottles are used to allow crew to move around the cabin during cabin depressurisation. Passengers, as well as cabin crew, have in-seat oxygen supply, and this was not affected by the spate of incidents.

Source: FlightGlobal