“A significant number” of Airbus A320 family aircraft will require an immediate software modification for safety reasons. This change is expected to impact about half of the entire global fleet.
The Portuguese airline, TAP, stated it is “monitoring the situation, always prioritizing the safety of [its] passengers and crew”, without specifying how many planes will be affected or what flight disruptions might occur.
As reported on the ANA Aeroportos Portugal website, as of 7:50 AM, flights departing from Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon did not appear to be experiencing any disruptions.
Update Linked to October Incident
A Reuters report indicates the software modification is connected to a sharp descent incident on a JetBlue flight from Cancún, Mexico to Newark, New Jersey, United States, on October 30. At least 15 people were injured in this incident.
It was discovered that intense solar radiation can corrupt critical data needed for the operation of flight control systems.
To ensure such a situation does not recur, Airbus has scheduled the grounding of all A320 family aircraft for Saturday, November 29, from 23:59. The software update (in essence, reversing recent changes) should be relatively simple but requires the planes to be at a standstill.
For most aircraft, updating the software to the previous version should take “a few hours”.
However, for approximately one thousand aircraft, it will involve replacing computer hardware, “which will take weeks,” according to a source involved in the process speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“Safety is Paramount”
An official statement from Airbus acknowledges that these recommendations will cause operational disruptions for passengers and customers and expressed apologies for any inconvenience, adding: “We will work closely with operators, keeping safety as our absolute and utmost priority.”
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also issued a notice confirming it had been informed by Airbus of the situation: “These measures may cause short-term interruptions in flight schedules and, consequently, inconvenience to passengers. However, as is always the case in aviation, safety is paramount,” stated EASA.
Global Flight Disruptions (Known)
In response to the situation, Iberia, part of the IAG group, confirmed on Friday it is working to implement the necessary changes safely on its A320 aircraft and assured that Saturday’s operations would remain unaffected, reported the Efe news agency.
Meanwhile, Air France canceled 35 flights on Friday due to the software issues.
JetBlue did not respond to requests for comment from AFP, whereas competitor American Airlines indicated it had already started updating its navigation software following notification.
United Airlines stated it was unaffected by the defect, providing no further details, even though it operates several A320 aircraft.
Avianca of Colombia estimated that 70% of its fleet will be impacted, expecting “significant disruptions over the next ten days,” and announced the suspension of ticket sales until December 8.
In Asia, where A320 aircraft are more common, India’s aviation regulator stated that 338 Airbus planes in the country were impacted by the issue but noted that the software reset would be completed by Sunday.
“There is no significant impact on schedule integrity across our network,” Air India announced on X. “Nevertheless, some of our flights may experience slight delays or schedule changes.”
In Taiwan, the Civil Aviation Administration directed airlines to conduct inspections and maintenance, with about two-thirds of the 67 A320 and A321 aircraft operated by island carriers reportedly affected.
In Japan, ANA Holdings, the largest airline, canceled 65 flights on Saturday, warning of further disruptions on Sunday.
Asiana Airlines from South Korea reported expecting no major flight disruptions, with only 17 of its aircraft affected.
Airbus A320 Leads Global Sales
Approximately 11,300 A320 family aircraft are in operation globally, including 6,440 of the main A320 model, which first flew in 1987. The grounding impacts 350 airlines worldwide.
The Airbus A320, which entered service in 1988, is the best-selling aircraft globally. In September, it surpassed the Boeing 737 from U.S. manufacturer Boeing as the most delivered aircraft, with the first Boeing 737 unit delivered in 1968.
As of the end of September, Airbus had delivered 12,257 A320 aircraft (including executive-class versions), compared to 12,254 Boeing 737s.
