Airlines Worldwide Ground Airbus A320 Fleet Over Software Glitch
A critical software issue has forced airlines around the world to ground Airbus A320 family aircraft, affecting over 6,500 jets globally. Major carriers, including Delta, American, Jetstar, and JetBlue, are rushing to implement a mandatory software fix following an urgent directive from Airbus SE after a recent incident involving a JetBlue flight. The solution requires airlines to revert the affected planes to an earlier software version before they can return to service.
The grounding has caused widespread operational disruption, with numerous flight cancellations and schedule adjustments. Colombian carrier Avianca reported that more than 70% of its fleet was impacted, while American Airlines, the world’s largest operator of A320 aircraft, has over 200 planes affected and aims to complete the fix overnight. Delta Air Lines is addressing issues with fewer than 50 of its A321neo jets.
Passenger travel plans have been thrown into chaos as hundreds of flights are canceled worldwide. In Japan, ANA Holdings canceled 65 flights, while Air New Zealand and Indian carriers including Air India and IndiGo issued advisories warning passengers of potential delays. Airlines are working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible, but the widespread nature of the glitch is creating a ripple effect across global air travel.
