This recall has become one of the largest in Airbus's history over the past 55 years. Currently, about 11,300 A320 aircraft are in operation, of which 6,440 are the main model, first introduced into service in 1987. Among the largest operators of the A320 are American carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United Airlines, as well as a significant number of customers from China, Europe, and India.
At the time of the recall announcement, approximately three thousand of this model were in the air.
Reasons for the Recall
Airbus notified airlines of the need to update the software before the next scheduled flight. The corporation noted that a recent incident involving an A320 aircraft demonstrated the possibility of critical data corruption under intense solar radiation conditions, which requires modifications.
Airbus A320.
According to Reuters, the incident occurred on October 30 on a JetBlue flight from Cancun (Mexico) to Newark (USA), when the aircraft lost control after a sudden altitude drop, resulting in several passengers being injured. The airliner made an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida.
Impact on Air Travel
- Airlines from the USA, South America, Europe, India, and New Zealand are warning of possible delays and cancellations due to the repairs.
- American Airlines, the largest A320 operator, reports that repairs will be needed on approximately 340 out of 480 aircraft of this model. All necessary work is expected to be completed by the end of the week, with each aircraft taking about two hours.
- Other airlines, such as Lufthansa, IndiGo, and easyJet, plan to temporarily ground their A320s for repairs.
- According to Colombian airline Avianca, the recall will affect more than 70% of its fleet, forcing it to suspend ticket sales for flights until December 8.
