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International-News
Airbus A320 recall causes disruption to global air travel
Airbus A320 recall causes cancellations and urgent repairs
It has been a difficult day for international air traffic, in the middle of the end-of-year travel season, due to the recall of Airbus A320s announced by the European manufacturer. The measure affects around 6,000 aircraft and requires immediate technical action, causing delays and cancellations at several airports, although Italian airports are not currently experiencing any critical issues.
Solar radiation and data risk: the cause of the recall
The measure is linked to fears that intense exposure to solar radiation could alter the integrity of the data used by flight control systems. Airbus has requested an urgent update of the Elevator Aileron Computers (Elac), the modules that control the ailerons and stabilisers, which are essential for the aircraft’s response in abnormal conditions.
The EASA has issued an emergency directive requiring airlines to complete the correction before the next take-off, effectively resulting in a temporary halt to operations for the aircraft involved. The main procedure consists of restoring a previous software version: a simple operation that can often be carried out between flights or during night-time checks.
Operational complexities for airlines: the map of disruption
In Europe, Air France has already cancelled 35 flights and will shortly update the list of modified routes. American Airlines, the world’s largest operator of the A320 family, aims to complete the work by today, while Lufthansa and IndiGo have chosen to temporarily withdraw some aircraft from service.
Colombia’s Avianca reports that over 70% of its fleet is affected, which is why it has suspended ticket sales until 8 December. The situation is more reassuring for easyJet, which confirms that it has almost completed the necessary updates and expects normal operations on Saturday.
Global impact: huge fleet, operators from four continents
The A320 family now has around 11,300 aircraft in service worldwide. Major operators include four US giants – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and United Airlines – as well as European, Chinese and Indian carriers. In Japan, All Nippon Airways has already cancelled 95 domestic flights while software updates continue, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
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