Airlines across the world are expected to ground thousands of Airbus A320 aircraft for repairs in the coming days after Airbus acknowledged a safety concern on Friday, potentially throwing a wrench in airline operations as millions of Americans prepare to fly home after Thanksgiving.
In a short statement issued Friday afternoon, Airbus said a “significant number” of its Airbus A320 family of jets – some of the most common planes in the sky (including Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft) – need an urgent software update. The aircraft manufacturer admitted those fixes “will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers.”
The issue stems from the aircrafts' handling of “intense solar radiation,” that can interrupt the functioning of flight controls onboard.
While federal regulators in the States haven't issued an emergency directive requiring U.S. airlines to ground their Airbus planes for repairs as of publication, the main regulatory body in Europe issued an order Friday requiring airlines to stop flying all affected planes by Saturday evening until the required repairs are completed.
If you’ve flown in the U.S., Europe, or practically anywhere, chances are you’ve been on an A320. They’re the everyday workhorse for airlines like American, Delta, and United, who operate thousands of flights on those jets daily. Not every single A320 in the world will be subjected to software fixes – United, for example, says none of its 200-plus A320 aircraft will be impacted.
But if the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or airlines themselves decide to pull jets from service, it could ripple across the entire system fast. And the timing couldn't be worst.
We're heading into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year as Americans head home from Thanksgiving, with travel expected to smash records on Sunday. Even small disruptions right now could snowball into widespread delays.
It's just the latest cause for concern for American travelers after the federal government shutdown, which caused weeks of headaches for airlines and travelers alike before concluding after a record-setting 45 days. Add a widespread grounding into the mix, and the aviation system has very little wiggle room left.
The issues fall far short of the years-long grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft that began before the pandemic. But even a relatively easy software repair could cause a major logistical issue for airlines who need to fix hundreds of planes … and juggle their schedules on the fly to accommodate those repairs. American Airlines, for instance, expects 340 of its 480 (or roughly 70%) Airbus A320s will need to be pulled out of service for updating.
For now, A320 flights are still operating at home and abroad. But if you're flying this weekend – especially on U.S. carriers relying heavily on those jets – be sure to pay close attention to your email inbox and airline's mobile app to look for any changes to your itinerary.
This is a breaking news story, check back for updates
