Air travel disruptions are on the horizon following Airbus’ announcement of a significant recall affecting numerous A320 aircraft. EasyJet anticipates some disruptions, and Wizz Air has cautioned passengers about potential flight disturbances during the upcoming weekend.
The recall stems from Airbus identifying that intense solar radiation could corrupt crucial data within an aircraft’s flight control systems. A substantial portion of A320 family aircraft currently in operation, totaling around 6,000 planes, are susceptible to this issue. Notably, the wings for these aircraft are manufactured at Airbus Broughton in North Wales.
Reports indicate that approximately two-thirds of the affected planes may only experience brief groundings as airlines switch back to a previous software version. However, the remaining aircraft might necessitate hardware replacements, potentially leading to more extended periods of being grounded.
A spokesperson mentioned, “Airbus has collaborated proactively with aviation authorities to prompt immediate precautionary measures from operators through an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to implement available software and/or hardware protection, ensuring the fleet’s airworthiness.”
“These measures will be formalized in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Although these recommendations will cause operational disruptions for passengers and customers, Airbus apologizes for any inconvenience and is committed to working closely with operators to prioritize safety above all else.”
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