Airlines across Asia and beyond are grappling with significant disruptions due to a sweeping recall by Airbus affecting its A320 family of jets. This recall, prompted by a software glitch, has grounded numerous aircraft during a peak travel period, creating a ripple effect on global operations.
Scope of the Recall
The recall impacts approximately 6,000 planes, constituting more than half of Airbus’s global A320 family fleet. This aircraft model serves as a crucial component of short-haul aviation, especially in countries like China and India, where rising economic growth has led to an influx of new travelers. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated that airlines address the software issues before resuming operations.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also instructed carriers to modify or replace the software responsible for controlling the elevators and ailerons on the A319, A320, and A321 aircraft. This recall is one of the most extensive in Airbus’s 55-year history, coinciding with the A320 surpassing the Boeing 737 as the most-delivered aircraft model.
Impact on Airlines
In India, the aviation regulator reported that 338 Airbus aircraft were affected. The country’s largest airline, IndiGo, has completed the software reset on 143 of its 200 aircraft. Meanwhile, Air India, which has 113 affected planes, has reset 42 of them as of now. Both airlines have warned passengers of potential delays as they work to rectify the situation.
In Taiwan, the Civil Aviation Administration has directed airlines to conduct inspections and maintenance, estimating that about two-thirds of the 67 A320 and A321 aircraft operated by local carriers are impacted. ANA Holdings, Japan’s largest airline, reported the cancellation of 65 flights on Saturday and anticipated further disruptions on Sunday, particularly affecting its A320 fleet.
Globally, around 11,300 of these single-aisle jets are currently in service, with 6,440 belonging to the A320 family. The fix for the software issue primarily involves reverting to an earlier version, which, while straightforward, must be applied before the aircraft can return to the skies.
In Australia, budget carrier Jetstar reported that some of its flights faced disruptions, but it expects all affected planes to be back in service by Sunday. Conversely, Asiana Airlines in South Korea indicated that it did not foresee major disruptions, with only 17 of its aircraft impacted. Its domestic competitor, Korean Air, is working to restore 10 jets to service.
In the United States, American Airlines, the world’s largest A320 operator, announced that 340 of its 480 A320 aircraft require the software fix, most of which are expected to be completed by Saturday. Other major U.S. carriers, including Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United Airlines, are also among the top ten operators of the A320 family.
Colombian airline Avianca has been significantly affected, with over 70% of its fleet caught up in the recall, prompting it to suspend ticket sales for travel through December 8, 2023.
As airlines continue to manage these challenges, the full impact of the Airbus A320 recall is expected to unfold in the coming days, affecting travel plans for thousands of passengers worldwide.
