UPDATE: Jetstar flights are facing significant delays and cancellations as the airline works to recover from a critical global software issue that grounded dozens of aircraft. Earlier today, 90 Jetstar flights were cancelled across Australia, stranding thousands of passengers at airports nationwide.
The software anomaly affected 34 out of 85 of Jetstar’s A320/1 aircraft, prompting urgent repairs. Engineering teams were deployed mainly on the east coast to reverse a problematic software upgrade, with each aircraft repair taking between two to three hours. Jetstar’s head of flying operations, Tyrone Simes, confirmed that all affected planes are expected to be ready for service by late tonight, allowing flights to resume as planned on Sunday.
Despite this, Jetstar cautions that passengers should brace for potential ongoing delays and cancellations as the network stabilizes. “We expect some flow-on delays or cancellations on Sunday as our network fully recovers,” a Jetstar spokeswoman stated.
The issue first came to light following an emergency landing of a JetBlue flight on October 30 after it experienced an uncommanded altitude drop. European manufacturer Airbus subsequently ordered immediate precautionary measures for operators of over 6,000 aircraft in the A320 family globally, citing concerns that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls.”
Australia’s aviation safety regulator confirmed they are closely monitoring the situation. “We are in contact with major airlines and are confident they are acting quickly to minimize disruptions and ensure aircraft can be returned to service safely,” stated a spokesperson.
Passengers at Melbourne Airport, especially those traveling for schoolies events to destinations like Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, expressed frustration. Airport chief of aviation, Jim Parashos, noted the understanding exhibited by travelers amid the chaos, stating, “We appreciate their frustration, but they’ve been very understanding.”
Jetstar has promised to keep customers informed about further disruptions. Meanwhile, major airlines like Qantas and Virgin Airlines remain unaffected by the software problem.
As the situation develops, passengers are urged to check flight status and remain in contact with Jetstar for updates. Stay tuned for more urgent updates as this story unfolds.
