A sudden software update on 6,000 operational Airbus A320s sent airlines around the world into overdrive, with the company alerting operators to immediate fixes on Friday, right in the middle of the busiest travel weekend of the year.
The setback, which appears to be one of the biggest recalls affecting Airbus in its 55-year history, comes after a software problem caused a JetBlue plane to suddenly drop in altitude last month, the manufacturer and European aviation safety regulators said on Friday.
Airbus said analysis of the JetBlue incident revealed that intense sunlight may have corrupted data essential to the plane’s flight control systems, leading to the malfunction on the A320, the AP reported.
Was anyone injured in the October incident?
No casualties were reported in the JetBlue incident on October 30, but at least 15 passengers were injured and taken to the hospital after the plane experienced a mid-air malfunction.
The plane, which was traveling from Cancun, Mexico to Newark, New Jersey, was later diverted to Tampa, Florida.
As a result of the breach, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the highest body within the European Union, issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) requiring Airbus A320 operators to address the issue as a matter of priority.
Disruption of flight schedules worldwide
EASA and several airlines have already warned flyers that the repairs could potentially cause flight delays or cancellations, although some carriers say disruptions are likely to be limited.
In Japan, All Nippon Airways, which operates more than 30 planes, canceled 65 domestic flights scheduled to operate on Saturday. The company also said further cancellations on Sunday are possible.
Read also | Airbus software update: Airlines make more than 50% of A320 family aircraft more efficient
American Airlines has about 480 A320 family aircraft, of which 209 were affected. The repair is expected to take about two hours for many planes, and the updates are expected to be completed on the vast majority by Friday, the airline said. Several more will be completed on Saturday, the AP reported.
While Alaska Air said there was no disruption to the Airbus software fix and operations would continue as usual.
Will the disruption affect Indian airlines?
Many airlines in India, including Air India, Air India Express and Indigo, have also alerted their passengers about the possible disruption.
Air India said the Airbus directive will require a software/hardware change for a portion of its fleet, leading to longer lead times and delays. The airline has already reset more than 40% of the affected aircraft and expects to complete the rest within the deadline prescribed by EASA.
Read also | What IndiGo, Air India fliers need to know after Airbus software alert amid delays
Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, noted that while most of its aircraft would not be affected, the global guidelines would still cause delays and cancellations.
India’s low-cost airline Indigo said it was actively carrying out mandated updates, adding that some flights may experience “minor schedule changes” as it completes “preventive updates,” according to Reuters.
All about Airbus
Airbus is one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers and closely competes with Boeing. According to the AP, its A320 series is the main rival of the Boeing 737.
Widely used by commercial airlines around the world, the aircraft is originally registered in the Netherlands but is headquartered in France.
Just a few weeks before the incident, the A320 successfully surpassed the Boeing 737 as the best-selling aircraft model.
