Airlines worldwide have announced delays and cancellations of flights after Airbus issued an alert regarding a potential technical issue affecting up to 6,000 A320 aircraft. The alert, issued on Friday, instructed clients to take immediate precautionary action due to a malfunction that could corrupt critical flight control data caused by intense solar radiation.
Airbus stated that the issue may affect a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in service, and that replacing the software will take a few hours for most planes, but may take weeks for around 1,000 aircraft. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been informed of the issue and acknowledges that the measures may cause short-term disruption to flight schedules, but emphasized that safety is paramount.
Several airlines, including Air France, Avianca, and American Airlines, have already begun cancelling flights and notifying affected passengers. Air France cancelled 35 flights on Friday, while Avianca reported that 70 percent of its fleet had been impacted. American Airlines has started updating software on its affected aircraft and expects the vast majority to be serviced by Saturday, but anticipates several delays.
The issue originated from a technical malfunction on a JetBlue flight in October, which resulted in an in-flight control issue and an emergency landing. Thales, the manufacturer of the flight control computer, stated that its product was fully compliant with Airbus’ technical specifications, but the functionality in question is supported by software not under its responsibility.
Airlines such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Air India have also been affected, with some expecting minor disruptions and others warning of significant delays over the next few days. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have grounded at least 40 domestic flights and are offering refunds or rebooked tickets.
The A320 is the world’s best-selling aeroplane, with over 12,000 aircraft sold by the end of September. The incident highlights the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft, and the need for swift action to address potential technical issues. As airlines continue to work on updating their software and resolving the issue, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information on flight schedules and any potential disruptions.