Disruptions, mid-air blunders: the highlights of 2024 for Hong Kong aviation

Hong Kong’s aviation sector navigated a turbulent year in 2024 as it tried to recuperate from the pandemic and underwent a series of mid-air dramas. From a broken toilet door during a flight to an Airbus A350 engine fire and a global Microsoft outage disrupting operations at Hong Kong International Airport, the Post looks back at the aviation stories that made headlines in 2024. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled almost 800 flights between December 2023 and February 2024 due to pilot illnesses and recruitment challenges. It drew a backlash from authorities for poor crew planning, causing frustration for travellers trying to reschedule flights and for pilots navigating what they perceived as chaotic roster arrangements. The city’s flag carrier also cancelled 90 flights and conducted inspections and repairs on its 48-strong Airbus A350 aircraft after the engine of a Zurich-bound flight caught fire in September. The issue stemmed from a fuel nozzle failure in a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine. Cathay’s budget carrier HK Express told two visually impaired passengers to deboard a Tokyo-bound flight in May, triggering criticism from the Hong Kong Blind Union, which called the move “insulting”. The airline first denied claims of forced removal due to safety concerns, but later apologised and offered compensation to the two passengers. A cargo plane operated by Atlas Air suffered a burst tyre during an emergency landing on the airport’s northern runway in June. It paralysed the runway for eight hours and delayed about 450 flights. The hydraulic system failure on the aircraft complicated the emergency handling, extending the time needed to resolve the situation. Story has more.<br/>