Air travel across multiple continents faced major disruption on Saturday as more airlines announced delays and cancellations following an urgent Airbus alert warning that up to 6,000 A320-family aircraft may need immediate software upgrades.
The European plane-maker issued the notice on Friday after analyzing a technical malfunction linked to a JetBlue flight in October, cautioning operators to take “immediate precautionary action.”
According to Airbus, intense solar radiation can corrupt critical flight-control data, potentially affecting “a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in service.”
While software replacement is expected to take only a few hours for most planes, the update will require several weeks for around 1,000 aircraft, a source familiar with the matter told AFP—foreshadowing prolonged global travel disruption.
Widespread Flight Cancellations
Air France said it was still assessing the extent of additional cancellations expected on Saturday, after already scrapping 35 flights on Friday. A spokesperson said passengers were being notified individually via SMS and email.
Colombian carrier Avianca reported that 70 percent of its fleet had been affected by the software issue.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) confirmed it had been briefed by Airbus, warning that the required measures “may cause short-term disruption” but reaffirming that “safety is paramount.”
Questions Over Software Responsibility
Thales, the aerospace firm that manufactures the flight-control computer, stressed that its hardware complies fully with Airbus and regulatory specifications and is certified by both EASA and the U.S. FAA. The company added, however, that the software linked to the malfunction is not under Thales’ responsibility.
Airbus did not name the software developer but apologized in its statement, acknowledging that the required updates would lead to operational setbacks worldwide.
Incident That Sparked the Alarm
The alert follows an October 30 incident in which a JetBlue A320 experienced a sudden in-flight control failure while traveling from Cancun to Newark.
The aircraft abruptly nosedived, forcing pilots to divert and make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida. Local firefighters reported several passenger injuries.
JetBlue declined to comment on the incident but confirmed it has begun implementing software changes on affected A320 and A321 aircraft.
Airlines Race to Update Their Fleets
American Airlines, which has about 340 impacted aircraft, said most would be updated by Saturday, though “several delays” were expected. United Airlines initially reported no impact but later identified six affected aircraft, warning of minor disruptions.
Delta Air Lines said it anticipated completing all necessary updates by Saturday morning.
Air India cautioned passengers about ongoing delays, and Avianca warned of “significant disruptions over the next 10 days.”
In the Philippines, both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific offered refunds and rebooking options after grounding at least 40 domestic flights.
A Major Blow to the World’s Most Popular Aircraft
Since entering production in 1988, the Airbus A320 has become the world’s best-selling commercial aircraft, with 12,257 units sold as of September—narrowly surpassing Boeing’s 737 family.
The latest software crisis underscores the enormous global reliance on the A320 and the far-reaching impact of any technical failure involving the aircraft.
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