Minimal delays for US airlines after Airbus orders global emergency software fix on A320-family jets
In a critical safety announcement on Friday, Airbus instructed airlines to implement an immediate software fix on thousands of its A320-family jets due to a bug that poses potential control issues during flights. This decision comes in the wake of a concerning incident involving a JetBlue A320, which experienced a sudden altitude drop during a flight from Cancun to Newark on October 30, injuring 15 passengers. The investigation revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt essential flight control data during solar flares, leading to the urgent need for corrective measures. With approximately 6,000 A320 jets globally affected—over half of the total fleet of this popular narrow-body aircraft—Airbus’ directive is particularly timely as airlines prepare for the busy post-Thanksgiving travel rush.
The fix, which involves a software update that can be completed in about two hours, is expected to have minimal impact on operations for major U.S. carriers. American Airlines, the largest operator of the A320 family, reported that 209 of its 475 A320 jets are affected, with most scheduled to receive the update by Saturday morning. Similarly, Delta Air Lines, which operates 305 A320-family jets, identified fewer than 50 A321neo aircraft needing the fix and anticipates limited operational disruptions. United Airlines indicated that only six of its 201 A320-family jets are impacted. However, the situation is more severe for international airlines, such as Colombia’s Avianca, which stated that over 70% of its fleet is affected, prompting the airline to close ticket sales until December 8.
As travelers gear up for one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, the urgency of this software fix cannot be overstated. Airlines are urging passengers to check their flight status through their respective apps to stay informed on any potential disruptions. While U.S. airlines seem to be managing the situation effectively, vigilance remains key as the industry navigates through this unexpected challenge. For the latest updates on travel disruptions and airline operations, be sure to follow trusted sources like TPG.
European planemaker Airbus ordered airlines on Friday to perform an immediate software fix on thousands of A320-family jets, addressing a bug that could cause control problems during flights.
In a statement, the planemaker said that analysis of a recent incident had revealed a problem in which “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls” during solar flares.
The problem was found after a JetBlue A320 flying from Mexico’s Cancun International Airport (CUN) to New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Oct. 30 experienced a sudden drop in altitude, injuring 15 people.
About 6,000 planes globally are affected, or just over half of the global fleet of the narrow-body jet, which recently overtook Boeing’s 737 as the most-delivered commercial airplane in history. U.S. operators currently have 1,622 A320 jets in service, according to data analytics firm Cirium, although not all of them are impacted by the order.
Fortunately for airlines, the fix appears to be quick — welcome news for U.S. carriers gearing up for that post-holiday rush on the back end of Thanksgiving. The fix involves a software update that takes about two hours.
American Airlines, which is the largest operator of the A320-family, said that 209 of its jets are affected, out of a total in-service fleet of 475 of the type. As of 7 p.m. ET, there were fewer than 150 aircraft still waiting on the fix, according to a spokesperson, with the “overwhelming majority” expected to be completed by Saturday morning.
“Safety will always be our top priority, and we thank our customers for their patience during this unexpected event,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
A person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified characterized any expected impact to passenger service to be “minimal.”
Delta Air Lines, which has 305 A320-family jets in service, according to Cirium, said that it expects the number of affected planes to stay relatively low, and it had identified fewer than 50 A321neo aircraft that will require the fix. The airline plans to finish installing the software update by Saturday morning, a spokesperson said, and expects any operational impact to be “limited.”
United has 201 A320-family jets in service but told TPG that only six planes were affected and it did not expect the issue to affect schedules.
JetBlue, which which flies 220 of the aircraft, did not immediately respond a request for comment.
While the effects on U.S. carriers may be limited, airlines in other parts of the world faced greater impacts. Colombia’s Avianca said that more than 70% of its fleet was affected, according to Reuters, leading it to close ticket sales for travel through Dec. 8.
Still, despite what may prove to be a limited impact to the larger U.S. airlines, the issue comes during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, as Americans return home following Thanksgiving.
As always, be sure to check your flight in your airline’s app to see the latest status, and keep an eye on TPG for the latest on any travel disruptions caused by this issue.
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