Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department has given Cathay Pacific Airways approval to operate 120min extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) with its Airbus Industrie A330-300s. The 120min rating is Cathay's first, and involved 7,000 simulated ETOPS hours. It will enable the aircraft, to be operated to Perth, Brisbane, Cairns in Australia and Columbo in Sri Lanka, via Bangkok. Consideration is now being given to extending the carrier's A330 ETOPS certification to 180min over the next year, for added route flexibility.
Source: Flight International
