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Airbus A320 fleet resumes flights after solar radiation software fix
Thousands of Airbus A320-family aircraft returned to service Saturday after a global grounding triggered by concerns over solar radiation disrupting onboard altitude systems, with airlines reporting minimal lingering disruptions.
Scope of the issue
Approximately 6,000 Airbus A320-series jets-including A318, A319, and A321 models-were temporarily grounded after the manufacturer identified a software vulnerability in altitude-calculation systems. The flaw, exacerbated by high-altitude solar radiation, was linked to a JetBlue Airways incident in October when a Mexico-bound flight lost altitude unexpectedly, injuring 15 passengers during an emergency landing.
Of the affected fleet, 5,100 aircraft required a software patch, while 900 older models need hardware replacements-computing units that remain in short supply, according to Airbus. The company's CEO, Guillaume Faury, acknowledged "logistical challenges and delays" but assured stakeholders that updates were being deployed "as swiftly as possible."
Global airline responses
European carriers reported swift progress. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed that over 5,000 planes had completed updates "very smoothly," with fewer than 100 pending. Air France faced delays at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport Saturday morning, while UK operators-including British Airways and EasyJet-resumed normal schedules after overnight maintenance. London's Gatwick Airport noted "some disruption," though Heathrow, Manchester, and Luton reported negligible impact.
In the U.S., American Airlines anticipated "operational delays" but expected most updates to conclude by Saturday. Delta Air Lines projected limited disruptions. Meanwhile, Australia's Jetstar canceled 90 flights, though most of its fleet had been updated by weekend's end. Air New Zealand briefly grounded its A320s before resuming full operations post-patch.
Regulatory and technical context
The UK Civil Aviation Authority stated that local airlines worked overnight to implement fixes, avoiding serious air traffic congestion. Airbus traced the vulnerability to corrupted altitude data during periods of intense solar radiation-a phenomenon tied to the Sun's periodic emissions. Older aircraft lacking compatible hardware remain grounded until replacement units arrive, though no timeline was provided.
"Supplies of the required computing units will dictate how quickly we can return the remaining 900 planes to service."
Airbus spokesperson (via statement)
Next steps
Airlines continue monitoring for residual delays, with Jetstar and other carriers warning of potential weekend knock-on effects. Airbus has not disclosed whether compensatory measures will be offered to affected passengers or operators.
