Asian airlines scrambled to fix a software glitch on their Airbus A320 jets as a sweeping recall by the European planemaker grounded aircraft across the region after disrupting travel in the United States during the busiest weekend of the year.
The recall of 6,000 planes covers more than half of Airbus’ global A320 family fleet, the backbone of Asian short-haul aviation, particularly in China and India where economic growth has brought millions of new travellers into the skies.
Regulators around the world followed the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in directing their carriers to remedy the A320 software problem before resuming flights.
India’s aviation regulator said 338 Airbus aircraft in the country were affected by the glitch but said the software reset would be completed by today. The country’s largest airline, IndiGo, said it had completed the software reset on 160 out of 200 aircraft.
Air India, which has 113 impacted aircraft, has completed the reset on 42 aircraft. Both airlines warned of delays yesterday.
Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration instructed airlines to conduct inspections and maintenance. It estimates that around two-thirds of the 67 A320 and A321 aircraft operated by the island’s carriers are affected.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Macau said it had asked Air Macau to address the issue, including rescheduling flights to minimise any disruption to passengers.
ANA Holdings, Japan’s biggest airline, cancelled 95 flights yesterday, affecting 13,500 travellers.
ANA and its affiliates, such as Peach Aviation, operate the most Airbus A320 jets in Japan.
Its chief rival Japan Airlines has a mostly Boeing fleet and does not fly the A320.
Jetstar, the budget carrier of Australia’s flag carrier Qantas, said some of its flights would be affected by the recall.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported significant delays at Melbourne Airport.
South Korea’s Asiana Airlines said it does not expect any significant disruptions to its flight schedule, with only 17 of its aircraft affected by the recall.
Its domestic rival Korean Air said it was working to get 10 of its jets back into service.
South Korea’s Transport Ministry said upgrades to 42 aircraft there were expected to be completed by this morning.
Hong Kong budget carrier HK Express said it had upgraded more than half of its affected aircraft and that flight operations were normal. — Reuters
