Mass Grounding Disrupts Holiday Travel
Airbus announced on Friday, November 28, 2025, an immediate recall and repair order for 6,000 of its A320 family jets. The fix, prompted by a software glitch linked to a sudden altitude drop on a JetBlue flight on October 30, affects more than half of the global A320 fleet.
Globally, about 11,300 A320-family aircraft are in service. Before they can return to the skies, airlines must revert to an earlier software version, a process expected to cause delays and cancellations—especially in the United States where peak holiday travel is underway.
Impact on Major Carriers
American Airlines, the largest A320 operator, has 340 of its 480 A320s grounded and aims to complete repairs by Saturday, November 29. Delta, JetBlue and United have also committed to the mandated software update, warning travelers to prepare for schedule changes.
Concentrated Fleets: Efficiency vs. Fragility
According to a 2025 IATA report, Airbus and Boeing account for roughly 80% of the global commercial fleet. Narrow-body jets, led by the A320 and Boeing 737 families, make up about 60% of planes in service. This standardization streamlines pilot training and maintenance but creates systemic vulnerabilities when a single model faces a fault.
In 2019 the Boeing 737 MAX grounding removed 387 jets worldwide, costing Boeing over $14.6 billion and leaving airlines scrambling to rebuild capacity over several months.
The Path Forward and New Entrants
The latest A320 recall has reignited calls for supply diversification. The Chinese mainland’s domestically developed COMAC C919, with over 1,400 orders and deliveries underway, is emerging as a potential third major player in the single-aisle market. Industry experts say such competition could boost resilience across global aviation.
Data Snapshot:
- 11,300 A320-family jets in operation
- 6,000 aircraft requiring repairs
- 340 A320s grounded at American Airlines
- 1,400+ orders for the COMAC C919
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
