Airbus has resolved most software glitches that grounded thousands of A320 aircraft, but shares fell on Monday after the company disclosed a separate quality problem with fuselage panels. The French plane manufacturer ordered repairs to 6,000 A320 family jets over the weekend, causing cancellations and delays worldwide.
The software issue, announced on Friday, stemmed from intense solar radiation that could corrupt flight control data. Airbus said the “vast majority” of fixes are complete, with fewer than 100 aircraft still awaiting software updates. However, analysts estimate up to 15% of planes may require hardware upgrades, which could take weeks due to limited supplies.
The new fuselage panel problem affects a “limited number” of A320 metal panels, according to Reuters. An Airbus spokesperson stated the source has been identified and contained, with all newly produced panels meeting requirements. The company is inspecting all potentially impacted aircraft.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander praised the swift response, noting minimal impact on UK airlines. EasyJet and Wizz Air completed updates over the weekend without cancellations. In the US, JetBlue expected to return 137 of 150 affected aircraft to service by Monday, cancelling about 20 flights.
Airbus shares fell up to 6% on Monday, though they remain up about 20% year-to-date. The recall, the largest in Airbus’s 55-year history, coincided with the US Thanksgiving weekend, disrupting major carriers like Delta, United, and American.
