Thousands of Airbus aircraft, which were temporarily grounded worldwide, are gradually returning to normal operation after the warning signal about possible interference from solar radiation in their computer systems.
The European aerospace company announced that about 6,000 aircraft of the A320 family were affected by the issue, with most requiring a quick software update. Additionally, about 900 older models need a computer replacement, a more time-consuming and complex process.
Smooth update process – Fewer than 100 aircraft pending
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated on Saturday that the process “went very smoothly” for more than 5,000 aircraft, while fewer than 100 remain to receive the upgrade.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologized for the “logistical challenges and delays” caused by the issue and assured that technical teams are working to complete the updates “as quickly as possible.”
Delays and cancellations for major carriers
At the same time, several airlines saw their schedules affected:
- Air France: Delays and some cancellations at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
- American Airlines: Warned of “operational delays,” but noted that most updates would be completed by Saturday.
- Delta Air Lines: Estimated that the impact would be limited.
- EasyJet & Wizz Air: Completed a significant part of the updates and are operating normally.
- British Airways & Air India: Not significantly affected.
In the United Kingdom, the Civil Aviation Authority reported that airlines worked through the night on the upgrades, without serious effects on air traffic. Minor disruptions were recorded at Gatwick, while Heathrow, Manchester and Luton reported no notable problems.
Impact in Asia and Oceania
In Australia, Jetstar cancelled 90 flights, although most of its aircraft have already been upgraded, with some disruptions continuing into the weekend.
Air New Zealand temporarily grounded its A320s, but all flights resumed after the process was completed.
The cause: Solar radiation that “confused” altitude data
The technical issue became known when a JetBlue aircraft flying from the United States to Mexico experienced a sudden loss of altitude and made an emergency landing in October, resulting in at least 15 passengers being injured.
Airbus identified an error in the altitude-calculation software: at high altitudes, intense solar radiation – which periodically increases due to solar flares – could corrupt data and lead to incorrect readings.
The issue affected the A318, A319, A320 and A321 models, the most widely used Airbus aircraft series.
Older aircraft remain grounded
Older aircraft that require full replacement of computing units remain grounded. The duration of the process depends on the availability of new computers, which could lead to prolonged delays for specific fleets.
Disruption in airline flights due to Airbus – No issues for AEGEAN and SKY express
