Thousands of Airbus planes have been grounded globally after it was discovered that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control systems. This revelation came following an investigation into an incident where an aircraft flying between the US and Mexico abruptly lost altitude in October.
The UK's aviation regulator has warned of "some disruption and cancellations to flights," though the overall impact at airports appears limited so far. Approximately 6,000 A320 model planes, representing half of Airbus's global fleet, are involved, but many are expected to return to service shortly after a straightforward software update.
The situation has caused delays worldwide, with some aircraft requiring a more involved process. About 5,100 planes can be remedied with a software update needing around three hours, while around 900 older models need their onboard computers replaced. The timeline for these repairs heavily depends on parts availability.
Airbus admitted this would lead to "operational disruption to passengers and customers" and has issued an apology.
Aviation analyst Sally Gethin described this is "out of the ordinary," noting passenger disruption will vary based on how airlines choose to implement updates.
In the UK, airport disruption has been minor; Gatwick Airport reported "some disruption," whereas Heathrow saw no cancellations. Manchester Airport predicted no significant issues.
The extent of the impact differs by airline. British Airways is minimally affected, while Wizz Air and Air India have already initiated updates. Air France faces more severe disruption; travel journalist Simon Calder reported 50 flights to and from Paris canceled. EasyJet anticipates "some disruption," but said many updates are complete, expecting a full service by Saturday.
In the US, the issue coincided with Thanksgiving weekend, a peak travel period. American Airlines reported 340 affected planes but expected to complete most updates by Friday or Saturday. Delta Airlines predicted a "limited" operational impact.
In Australia, Jetstar canceled 90 flights due to about a third of its fleet being affected, with ongoing disruptions despite most aircraft undergoing updates.