Air travel disruptions are on the horizon following Airbus’ announcement of a significant recall affecting numerous A320 aircraft. EasyJet anticipates some disturbances, while Wizz Air cautions passengers about potential flight disruptions during the upcoming weekend.
The recall stems from Airbus identifying that intense solar radiation could corrupt crucial data essential for an aircraft’s flight control systems. A considerable number of A320 family aircraft currently in operation, estimated at around 6,000 planes, may be impacted by this issue. Notably, the wings for these jets are manufactured at Airbus Broughton in North Wales.
Reports suggest that approximately two-thirds of the affected planes will experience brief groundings as airlines revert to a previous software version. However, the remaining aircraft may necessitate hardware replacements, potentially leading to extended periods of being grounded.
A spokesperson mentioned, “Airbus has collaborated proactively with aviation authorities to prompt immediate precautionary measures from operators through an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to implement available software and/or hardware safeguards, ensuring the fleet’s airworthiness.”
They added, “This AOT will be formalized in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). While Airbus recognizes that these directives may cause operational disruptions for passengers and customers, safety remains our top priority. We regret any inconveniences caused and are committed to closely collaborating with operators to address this issue.”
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