Airbus has successfully averted a potential crisis in global air travel by resolving a critical software issue that forced the grounding of thousands of its jets. The European aerospace giant confirmed that the "vast majority" of the 6,000 affected A320 family aircraft have now been fixed.
The Largest Recall in Airbus History
The unprecedented recall, the largest in Airbus's 55-year history, was triggered by the discovery that intense solar radiation could corrupt vital flight control data. The alert came just weeks after the A320 overtook its rival, the Boeing 737, to become the world's most-delivered jet. Airlines worldwide were forced to cancel and delay flights over the weekend as Airbus mandated immediate repairs for more than half of its global fleet of the popular single-aisle aircraft.
Swift Action Limits Travel Disruption
By Monday, Airbus stated that fewer than 100 aircraft still required the crucial software update before returning to service. The company issued an apology for the challenges and delays caused to passengers and airlines. The timing was particularly sensitive, coinciding with the busy Thanksgiving travel weekend in the United States, impacting major carriers like Delta, United, and American Airlines.
For most aircraft, the solution involved reinstalling an older version of the software, a process taking roughly two to three hours per plane. UK-based airlines easyJet and Wizz Air reported completing their updates over the weekend without cancelling any flights. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander noted the impact on UK airlines seemed limited, praising the swift identification and resolution of the issue as a demonstration of high global aviation safety standards.
Hardware Upgrades Loom for Older Aircraft
While the software fix is largely complete, a more complex challenge remains for a portion of the fleet. Analysts at Deutsche Bank estimate that up to 15% of the planes, approximately 900 older aircraft, may require a hardware upgrade. Equity analyst Aarin Chiekrie of Hargreaves Lansdown warned this process could take several weeks due to limited parts supplies.
In the US, low-cost carrier JetBlue stated it expected to return 137 of its 150 affected jets to service by Monday, though it anticipated cancelling around 20 flights. The incident has impacted Airbus's stock, with shares listed in Paris falling around 5% over the past five days, despite remaining up approximately 18% for the year to date.
