A Latam Airways Airbus A320 sits on the tarmac at El Dorado airport in Bogota on Nov. 28, 2025.
Sergio Yate | Afp | Getty Photos
Hundreds of vacationers worldwide have been stranded after Airbus ordered fast software program fixes for six,000 A320-series plane, a transfer that affected greater than half of the narrow-body fleet and compelled airways to floor jets throughout one of many busiest journey weekends of the 12 months.
The directive — among the many largest within the 55-year historical past of Airbus — shortly spilled into U.S. vacation journey and stretched to Australia. The disruption, linked to photo voltaic flares, hit particularly onerous in Asia, the place the single-aisle A320 household anchors short-haul networks.
American Airways, the world’s largest A320 operator, advised CNBC that the Airbus recall impacted 209 plane, down from the greater than 340 initially recognized. “As of 6 p.m. CT, American has fewer than 150 plane remaining to replace,” American Airways stated.
“We anticipate the overwhelming majority of these to be accomplished at present and thru the evening, with solely a handful remaining for completion tomorrow.”
United Airways stated six plane in its fleet have been affected, and the provider anticipated “minor disruption to a couple flights.”
Japan’s ANA Holdings canceled 95 home flights Saturday, affecting round 13,200 passengers. The provider, together with associates equivalent to Peach Aviation, operates the nation’s largest Airbus narrow-body fleet, whereas rival Japan Airways depends totally on Boeing plane.
Air India, which is partially owned by Singapore Airways, stated it had accomplished software program updates on over 40% of its affected plane and that there have been no flight cancellations, though some flights have been delayed or rescheduled.
Scoot, one other provider underneath the Singapore Airways group, stated 21 of its 29 A320s required the repair and that it aimed to finish the work by Saturday.
In Australia, Jetstar Airways canceled round 90 flights after figuring out 34 plane that required the software program correction.
“As of 3:30 pm [local time], 20 of the 34 affected plane are able to return to service. We’re anticipating the remaining to be prepared in a single day, permitting flights to renew as deliberate on Sunday 30 November,” a Jetstar spokesperson advised CNBC.
The price range airline and its guardian firm, Qantas, which is Australia’s nationwide flag provider, collectively maintain about 65% of the home market, whereas rival Virgin Australia has a 33% share.
The European Union Aviation Security Company stated in a directive {that a} JetBlue flight on Oct. 30 skilled an “uncommanded and restricted pitch down occasion.” The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration additionally issued an emergency directive Friday ordering operators of the affected mannequin to deal with the glitch.
Airbus stated it issued the order after “a latest occasion involving an A320 Household plane has revealed that intense photo voltaic radiation could corrupt information vital to the functioning of flight controls.”
Regulators warned that the problem may result in “an uncommanded elevator motion” within the worst-case situation.
