Thousands of Airbus planes have resumed regular service after being temporarily grounded due to concerns that solar radiation could disrupt flight control systems. About 6,000 A320 aircraft were impacted, primarily needing a software update, while around 900 older models required computer replacements. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarro noted the update process for over 5,000 planes went smoothly, with fewer than 100 still needing attention.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologized for logistical delays and stated that efforts were ongoing to complete the updates swiftly. While Air France faced some flight disruptions, American Airlines anticipated operational delays affecting 340 aircraft, though most updates were expected to finish soon. Delta Airlines reported limited impact, and UK airports experienced only minor issues.
The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority monitored the updates closely, with minimal flight disruptions overall. British Airways and Air India were largely unaffected. In Australia, Jetstar canceled 90 flights due to a significant portion of its fleet being grounded, while Air New Zealand returned its A320s to service after the update process.
The issue was identified after an incident involving a JetBlue flight that lost altitude due to software flaws exacerbated by solar radiation. Airbus found that while a simple software update could address the problem for about 5,100 planes, older models would require more extensive fixes.
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