Tokyo: Airlines around the world are facing travel disruptions after Airbus issued a large recall affecting thousands of its A320 family aircraft. The recall follows the discovery of a software problem linked to the flight control computer system, raising concerns over aviation safety.
Japan’s ANA Holdings was among the first major carriers to act and cancelled 65 flights scheduled for Saturday. The affected aircraft cannot operate until software checks or updates are completed. The airline said it is working to restore normal service as soon as possible and has apologised to passengers.
Airbus has instructed airlines to apply a temporary fix by reverting to a previous software version, while a long term update is being developed. For most aircraft, the update may take only a few hours, but older planes could need hardware inspections, which may extend downtime.
The recall covers around 6000 aircraft worldwide, making it one of the largest safety actions in Airbus history. Airlines in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States have reported delays, cancellations and schedule changes as teams rush to apply the required compliance procedures.
Regulators including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration have issued mandatory safety notices, ensuring airlines complete the corrective steps before affected jets return to service.
Despite the challenges, aviation officials say safety remains the top priority. Many carriers expect operations to stabilise in the coming days as more aircraft are cleared to fly.
Passengers have been advised to check flight status updates before travelling.