Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR.) topped the list of FTSE 100 risers on Wednesday morning following news from Cathay Pacific that its fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft would return to service by Saturday, after repairs to fuel lines.
Other airlines reported no issues, although some were awaiting guidance from the UK engine manufacturer on whether inspections of their engines were necessary, according to newswire reports.
This follows the failure of a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine part on an Airbus A350-1000 passenger plane during a flight on Monday. The incident reportedly led to a fuel leak, which caused a brief engine fire that was swiftly extinguished by the crew.
Several airlines with A350 aircraft opted to conduct precautionary inspections after Cathay Pacific discovered that 15 of its planes required fuel line repairs, according to Reuters.
In a statement yesterday, Rolls-Royce said that, as Hong Kong's aviation authorities had launched an investigation, it was restricted from commenting. However, it noted that Cathay's inspections showed that necessary component replacements could be carried out with the engine still 'on wing.'
"As well as providing support and guidance to Cathay Pacific, Rolls-Royce will keep other airlines operating Trent XWB-97 engines fully informed of any relevant developments as appropriate," the FTSE 100 company stated.
Qatar Airways, which operates the largest fleet of Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, reported no impact on its planes.
Shares in Rolls-Royce, which supplies engines for both the Airbus A350-1000 and the smaller A350-900, were up 1.2% on Wednesday morning.