Air travel across the United Kingdom experienced minimal disruption over the weekend, despite a major directive requiring a software update for some Airbus A320 aircraft. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that very few flights were affected, crediting the swift action of airlines.
Precautionary Action Following JetBlue Incident
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the main certifying authority for the A320 family, issued the instruction on Friday night. The move was described as a precautionary action to update one of the aircraft's onboard computers.
This directive came after an incident last month where at least 15 passengers on a JetBlue A320 were injured when the aircraft suddenly dropped in altitude, forcing an emergency landing in Florida. An investigation by Airbus found that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the flight controls on this specific aircraft family.
However, researchers from the University of Surrey Space Centre, Professors Keith Ryden and Clive Dyer, noted the findings were somewhat puzzling, stating there was no unusual solar activity on the day of the incident and radiation levels were normal for the altitude.
UK Aviation's Swift Response
In response to the EASA directive, UK airlines worked through the night to implement the necessary changes. Rob Bishton, chief executive of the CAA, praised the industry's efforts, saying, "I want to thank the airlines for working at pace to take this precautionary maintenance action."
The CAA noted that a small number of UK-operated aircraft had not yet received the update, but the presence of spare aircraft, particularly at this time of year, helped to avoid significant passenger disruption.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury apologised for the significant logistical challenges and delays caused internationally, confirming that teams were working around the clock to support operators.
Airline-Specific Updates and Passenger Impact
Major UK carriers provided updates on their status:
- Wizz Air confirmed the update was implemented overnight on all affected aircraft, with no further disruption anticipated.
- British Airways stated only three of its aircraft required the update, expecting no significant disruption.
- EasyJet indicated there might be schedule changes and promised to contact any affected passengers directly.
- Aer Lingus said it was not expecting major operational issues.
On the ground, airports including Stansted, Manchester, Heathrow, and Luton reported that flights were running to schedule or with only minor delays. A London Gatwick spokesperson had previously warned of a small number of possible delays, but no cancellations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander had initially warned passengers to expect limited disruption, but later commended the experts and staff for their swift work in addressing the issue and upholding the UK's high aviation safety standards.
