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

Qatar Airways Group has turned in a huge full-year operating loss, exceeding $500 million, exacerbated by a heavy share of losses at its Air Italy division. Group passenger revenues were up by 14% to QR34.1 billion and cargo revenues rose to just over QR10 billion for the year to 31 March. But fuel costs, in particular, hit the Middle Eastern carrier hard, surging by 36% to QR18.1 billion, the highest individual contribution to operating expenses of QR50 billion. This resulted in an operating loss of almost QR1.85 billion ($508 million), the company’s consolidated accounts show. Qatar Airways Group took a 49% interest in the parent company of Air Italy in September 2017. The accounts show that Air Italy generated a QR542 million ($149 million) loss for the financial year, of which the Qatar Airways Group share amounts to QR265.5 million. Air Italy’s revenues for the period reached QR1.2 billion. Losses from the Italian carrier were only partially offset by a QR50 million share in profits from participation in three other ventures, mainly relating to facilities management.
Qatar Airways Group claims it has “underlying robust financial health” despite the “continued illegal airspace blockade” from a number of states in the Gulf region. Group chief Akbar Al Baker says the company experienced a year of “achievement in the face of adversity” and “challenges that are unparalleled in the airline industry”. Qatar Airways Group posted a net loss of QR2.3 billion, which Al Baker describes as “disappointing”, blaming the withdrawal of mature routes, higher fuel costs, and currency exchange fluctuations.

Source: FlightGlobal