In one of the most significant safety actions in its history, Airbus has issued an urgent recall affecting a staggering 6,000 of its A320-family aircraft. This directive, impacting more than half of the global fleet for this model, was triggered by a recent incident revealing that intense solar radiation could corrupt critical flight control data.
Scale of the A320 Grounding
The sweeping safety order, announced on Friday 28 November 2025, represents a major challenge for the aviation industry. This development comes just weeks after the A320 surpassed the Boeing 737 as the world's most-produced aircraft. Industry sources indicate that while roughly two-thirds of the affected jets will face only short groundings for a software rollback, hundreds of others may require hardware replacements, leading to potentially lengthy delays.
At the time of the announcement, approximately 3,000 A320 aircraft were actively flying worldwide, highlighting the immediate and widespread nature of this operational disruption.
How Airlines Are Responding
British Airways has confirmed that only three of its aircraft require the fix, with work scheduled overnight to avoid disrupting its flight operations.
In contrast, American Airlines, the world's largest A320 operator, faces a substantial challenge. The carrier stated that about 340 of its 480 A320 jets need attention, with most repairs expected to be completed by Saturday, taking around two hours per plane.
Lufthansa has warned passengers that a small number of flight cancellations or delays may occur over the weekend as it implements the necessary measures. Similarly, Wizz Air and EasyJet have confirmed that some of their flights could be affected while they carry out the mandated software updates.
Global Impact and Passenger Advice
The recall's impact stretches far beyond Europe. Avianca reported that over 70% of its fleet is affected, leading to significant operational disruptions and prompting the airline to suspend ticket sales for travel through to 8 December.
In India, Air India and IndiGo have both acknowledged the directive, warning passengers of potential delays and schedule changes. However, not all carriers are facing issues; Azul Airlines of Brazil confirmed that none of its A320 jets are affected by the recall.
Passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest information on potential flight disruptions and schedule changes.
