Summary of Airbus A320neo Issue & Airline Impacts (as of november 29, 2024)
This article details widespread disruptions to air travel caused by a newly identified issue with Airbus A320neo family aircraft. heres a breakdown of the key points:
the Problem:
* Solar Radiation & Data Corruption: Intense solar radiation can corrupt critical flight control data in A320neo aircraft.
* Airbus Response: Airbus issued an alert (AOT) to operators, urging immediate preventative measures – software and/or hardware updates – to protect the fleet. A ”significant” number of aircraft are possibly affected.
* EASA Directive: Starting November 29th, repaired aircraft can carry passengers. Until then, affected planes are limited to flights without passengers to reach maintenance facilities.
airline Impacts (Global):
* American Airlines: ~340 planes affected, expecting most updates completed by saturday. “Some operational delays.”
* Delta Airlines: Complying with safety guidelines, optimistic about limited impact.
* JetBlue & United Airlines: Also affected,impacting travel during the busy thanksgiving weekend.
* Europe:
* Wizz Air: Warned of possible interruptions.
* EasyJet: Working with authorities, will notify customers of changes.
* Gatwick Airport (London): ~80 flights affected on Friday.
* Heathrow Airport (London): No current impact.
* Oceania:
* Air New Zealand: All A320neo aircraft will receive a software update before carrying passengers.
* Asia:
* All Nippon Airways (ANA – Japan): Cancelled over 60 flights, affecting ~9,500 passengers. Each review takes ~4 hours.
* India:
* Air India: Warned of delays, interruptions and cancellations.
Key Takeaways:
* Widespread Disruption: The issue is causing disruptions globally, impacting numerous airlines and passengers.
* Precautionary Measures: Airlines are prioritizing safety by grounding or limiting the use of affected aircraft until updates are implemented.
* Check with Airlines: Passengers are advised to check airline websites and apps for the latest flight information.
