Airbus Nears Completion of Massive A320 Software Fix, Easing Global Travel Disruption
Airbus has moved swiftly to resolve a major software glitch that triggered the grounding of thousands of its A320 family aircraft worldwide, with the European aircraft manufacturer confirming that the “vast majority” of affected jets have now been repaired.
The development has eased fears of prolonged global travel disruption after a mandatory recall that marked the biggest in the company’s 55-year history.
Over the weekend, airlines across multiple continents were forced to delay or cancel flights after Airbus ordered immediate repairs to about 6,000 A320-series aircraft – more than half of the global fleet – following a technical discovery linked to a recent mid-air incident.
According to Airbus, its analysis showed that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” prompting the precautionary directive.
The timing of the recall created significant pressure for carriers, particularly in the United States, where the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is traditionally one of the busiest periods for air travel. Major operators such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines were among those affected.
In an update on Monday, Airbus confirmed that fewer than 100 aircraft were still awaiting the necessary software update. The manufacturer apologised “for any challenges and delays caused to passengers and airlines by this event,” and assured the public that safety remained its highest priority.
While most aircraft required only the installation of an older software version – a process taking between two and three hours – analysts have warned that as many as 15 per cent of the jets may still need hardware upgrades.
Deutsche Bank estimates that up to 900 older aircraft could require more extensive work, likely taking weeks due to limited availability of replacement components.
Despite the scale of the recall, some major carriers managed to avoid significant operational impact. In the UK, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander noted that the disruption to British airlines was “limited,” adding: “It is heartening this issue has been identified and will be addressed so swiftly, demonstrating the high aviation safety standards globally.”
London-listed easyJet and Wizz Air told investors on Monday that they had completed the necessary updates without cancelling any flights over the weekend.
In the United States, low-cost carrier JetBlue reported that it expected 137 of its 150 grounded aircraft to return to service by Monday, though it planned to cancel about 20 flights as a precaution, according to Reuters.
The incident nevertheless rattled markets. Airbus shares, traded in Paris, have fallen roughly 5% over the past week, even though the company remains up about 18% for the year. The aerospace giant, headquartered near Toulouse, employs approximately 157,000 people globally.
As Airbus races to complete the remaining fixes, industry observers say the episode underscores the growing challenges posed by increasingly sophisticated aircraft systems – and the need for robust safeguards against unexpected vulnerabilities such as extreme solar activity.
