Airline Operations Normalize Following Airbus Software Alert

Mon Dec 01 2025 00:12:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Airbus A320 aircraft return to regular service after grounding due to solar radiation risk to onboard computers. The aerospace giant reports successful updates on over 5,000 planes.

After a brief grounding due to concerns that solar radiation could interfere with the onboard computers of around 6,000 Airbus A320 planes, normal flight operations are gradually resuming. The majority of updates have been successfully completed, with minimal disruptions reported by airlines, while some older models still await necessary computer replacements.

Thousands of Airbus planes are returning to normal service after being briefly grounded following a warning that solar radiation could interfere with onboard computers.

The aerospace giant - based in France - said about 6,000 of its A320 planes had been affected, with most requiring a quick software update. Some 900 older planes need a replacement computer.

On Saturday, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the updates went very smoothly for more than 5,000 planes, and fewer than 100 still needed the update.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologized for what he called logistical challenges and delays. He stated that teams were working to ensure that updates are completed as swiftly as possible.

On Saturday morning, several Air France flights in and out of Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport were delayed or cancelled. American Airlines anticipated operational delays but confirmed that the majority of updates would be executed by Saturday. Delta Airlines noted that it believed the impact on its operations would be limited.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority reported that airlines operating in the country worked through the night to carry out the necessary updates, and air traffic had not been seriously affected.

London's Gatwick Airport experienced some disruption, while Heathrow reported no cancellations. Manchester Airport did not anticipate significant issues, and Luton Airport had no expected impact. British Airways and Air India were also reportedly not heavily affected.

Easyjet confirmed the successful completion of updates on a significant number of its aircraft and planned to operate as normal. Wizz Air also reported normal operations following overnight updates.

In Australia, budget airline Jetstar canceled 90 flights but expected most of its aircraft to undergo the necessary updates over the weekend. Air New Zealand initially grounded its A320 planes but has since resumed all flights after completing updates.

Airbus discovered the potential issue after a JetBlue Airways flight flying between the US and Mexico suddenly lost altitude and made an emergency landing in October, resulting in injuries to at least 15 passengers. This alert led to identifying a flaw in the computing software responsible for calculating altitude, which could be compromised by radiation from the Sun at high altitudes.

Alongside the A320, Airbus's A318, A319, and A321 models were also impacted. The timeline for replacement computers for older planes awaiting updates will depend on availability.

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