The airline’s Head of Operations, Simes, emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that while Jetstar operates a fleet of 85 aircraft, 34 of their A320 models have been identified with this particular anomaly. “Anything to do with the flight control system is a serious matter, and we take it very seriously,” he remarked, underscoring the airline’s commitment to safety and adherence to corrective measures.

Efforts to rectify the issue are well underway, and as of 3:30 PM, Jetstar has managed to prepare 20 of the 34 affected aircraft to return to service. The company remains optimistic that the remaining planes will be ready by overnight, which would allow for a resumption of normal flight operations by Sunday, November 30.

This situation highlights the broader impact of the software issue, extending beyond Jetstar to affect airlines globally. Nevertheless, the swift response and proactive measures taken by Jetstar and Airbus demonstrate a clear commitment to maintaining safety and minimizing disruption for travelers.

“As of 3:30pm, 20 of the 34 affected aircraft are ready to return to service. We’re expecting the remaining to be ready overnight, allowing flights to resume as planned on Sunday 30 November,” they said in a statement.

SBS News understands no Qantas-operated flights are affected by the recall.

Global flights impacted

There are around 11,300 A320-family jets in operation, including 6,440 of the core A320 model, which first flew in 1987. Four of the world’s 10 biggest A320-family operators are major U.S. airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, and United Airlines.

For about two-thirds of the affected jets, the recall will theoretically result in a brief grounding as airlines revert to a previous software version, industry sources have told Reuters.

What is the reason behind the recall?

“Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers,” it said, apologising for the inconvenience.

The JetBlue incident