An emergency directive from Airbus and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) late on 28 November grounded thousands of A320-family jets worldwide after investigators found that high solar radiation could corrupt flight-control data. By Saturday afternoon, UK carriers had installed the required software roll-back on almost every affected aircraft, the Civil Aviation Authority said.
British Airways confirmed only three jets needed the patch; easyJet reported “limited schedule adjustments”, while Wizz Air finished updates overnight. Gatwick Airport cautioned passengers to check status updates, but Heathrow and Luton expected no impact. Elsewhere, Air France cancelled 35 flights and Jetstar axed 90 services, illustrating how quickly a technical bulletin can ripple through global networks.
![Airbus A320 software recall: UK airlines complete fixes, disruption minimal]()
For mobility managers, the episode underscores the importance of real-time travel-risk monitoring. Had more UK aircraft required hardware swaps—estimated at two to three hours per plane—the backlog could have hit Monday-morning commuter flights between London, Paris and Frankfurt. Companies should review duty-of-care protocols to ensure travellers receive automated disruption alerts and rebooking assistance when manufacturer directives emerge at short notice.
The quick fix also shows the value of robust MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) capacity in the UK market. Airlines with in-house engineering teams met the midnight deadline, whereas some overseas carriers faced longer ground times. That resilience may influence future route-planning decisions, particularly for firms that prioritise predictable lift for project crews.
Although the incident is winding down, Airbus hinted at further software audits across other fleets. Travel buyers should stay in close contact with preferred carriers to gauge any knock-on effects during the busy December peak.
British Airways confirmed only three jets needed the patch; easyJet reported “limited schedule adjustments”, while Wizz Air finished updates overnight. Gatwick Airport cautioned passengers to check status updates, but Heathrow and Luton expected no impact. Elsewhere, Air France cancelled 35 flights and Jetstar axed 90 services, illustrating how quickly a technical bulletin can ripple through global networks.
For mobility managers, the episode underscores the importance of real-time travel-risk monitoring. Had more UK aircraft required hardware swaps—estimated at two to three hours per plane—the backlog could have hit Monday-morning commuter flights between London, Paris and Frankfurt. Companies should review duty-of-care protocols to ensure travellers receive automated disruption alerts and rebooking assistance when manufacturer directives emerge at short notice.
The quick fix also shows the value of robust MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) capacity in the UK market. Airlines with in-house engineering teams met the midnight deadline, whereas some overseas carriers faced longer ground times. That resilience may influence future route-planning decisions, particularly for firms that prioritise predictable lift for project crews.
Although the incident is winding down, Airbus hinted at further software audits across other fleets. Travel buyers should stay in close contact with preferred carriers to gauge any knock-on effects during the busy December peak.
