Airbus: Most A320 Aircraft Recalled Have Been Modified Now

Paris (Reuters) – Airbus fleets returned to normal operations on Monday after the European aircraft manufacturer expedited software changes faster than expected, averting a potential long-term crisis due to a computer error related to space.

Dozens of airlines from Asia to the United States have implemented an emergency software modification mandated by Airbus and required by global regulators, following a security vulnerability discovered in a JetBlue A320 recently.

While Airbus has been grappling with security headlines focused largely on its competitor Boeing, the company stated on Monday that the vast majority of around 6,000 A320 family aircraft affected by the security alert have been modified, with fewer than 100 planes still requiring additional work.

However, some require a longer process, and Colombian airline Avianca has continued to suspend bookings until December 8. JetBlue announced it would cancel 20 flights on Monday.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the unprecedented decision to recall nearly half of the A320 family fleet was made shortly after a potential unverified link emerged with altitude drops in a JetBlue aircraft late last week.

Airbus shares fell by 3% after hitting their lowest levels since October 15, although analysts noted that the financial impact might be limited. Thales, the supplier of the airborne computers, lost 2%.

Aircraft Grounded During Part of the U.S. Thanksgiving Holiday

After discussions with regulators, Airbus issued its 8-page alert to hundreds of operators on Friday, effectively ordering a temporary grounding by mandating pre-flight repairs.

"The event happened around 9 PM (Jeddah time) and I was back here around 9:30. I was really surprised by how quickly we got past it: there are always complexities," said Stephen Greenway, CEO of the Saudi budget airline Flyadeal.

The instructions were viewed as the broadest emergency recall in the company's history and raised initial concerns about disruptions especially during the busy U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

The comprehensive alert revealed that Airbus lacks real-time awareness of the software versions in use due to reporting delays, according to industry sources.

Impact Adjusted Downward

Initially, airlines struggled to assess the impact as the comprehensive alert did not contain serial numbers of the affected aircraft. A Finnair passenger stated that a flight was delayed on the tarmac for checks.

Within 24 hours, engineers identified the individual aircraft.

Several airlines adjusted their estimates of the number of affected aircraft and the time needed for the work, which Airbus initially set at three hours per aircraft.

"It has decreased significantly," said an industry source on Sunday, referring to the total number of affected aircraft.

The repairs included reverting to a previous software version that manages the nose angle. This involves loading the previous version via a cable from a device called a data loader, which is brought to the cockpit to prevent cyberattacks.

At least one major airline faced delays because it did not have enough data loaders to handle dozens of aircraft in a short period, according to an executive speaking on background.

British Airways and Wizz Air announced on Monday that they completed the updates over the weekend without canceling any flights.

JetBlue stated late on Sunday that it expects to complete the work to return 137 of the 150 affected aircraft to service on Monday, planning to cancel around 20 flights on that day due to the issue.

Some Older A320s Need New Computers, Not Just Software Reset

Questions remain about how long older A320 family aircraft will generally stay out of service, as they will require new computers instead of just a software reset, amid a global chip shortage.

Thales distanced itself from the issue, stating it is not responsible for the software. Jefferies noted that the cost of replacing hardware in some aircraft will be limited.

Industry executives stated that the weekend's uproar highlighted changes in the playbook for the industry since the Boeing 737 Max crisis, where the American company faced severe criticism for its handling of the fatal crashes attributed to software design flaws.

This is the first time Airbus has dealt with global security scrutiny of this magnitude since that crisis. CEO Guillaume Faury publicly apologized in a deliberate tone shift for an industry facing lawsuits and conservative public relations. Boeing has also presented itself as more open.

"Is Airbus acting with the Boeing Max crisis in mind? Definitely – every company in the aviation sector is doing that," said Ron Torossian, CEO of 5W Public Relations in New York. "Boeing paid the reputational price for hesitance and lack of transparency. Clearly, Airbus wants to show... a willingness to say, 'We could have done better.' This resonates with regulators, customers, and the flying public."

Report by Tim Hepher, Alison Lambert, David Shepardson, and Reuters offices; Edited by Lincoln Feast and Bernadette Baum

1 web page