Airbus Software Update Disrupts Cancún Flights

Cancún, QR — More than a dozen flights to Cancún International Airport have already been affected by a new security order for Airbus software. The global disruption is attributed to an immediate update of Airbus aircraft software.

Between Saturday and Sunday, more than a dozen flights to Cancún International Airport had already been impacted. According to Airbus, approximately half of its fleet, about 6,000 aircraft, mostly Airbus A320s, need an immediate update.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury issued a statement on Saturday saying, “The required repair on some A320 aircraft has been causing significant logistical challenges and delays since yesterday.

“I want to sincerely apologize to our airline customers and passengers who are affected now. But we consider nothing more important than safety when people fly on one of our Airbus aircraft, as millions do every day.

“Our teams are working 24 hours a day to support our operators and ensure these updates are implemented as quickly as possible to get aircraft flying again and resume normal operations, with the safety guarantee you expect from Airbus.”

Operational disruptions are expected as airlines begin to implement the software update related to the vulnerability to sun exposure.

The vulnerability was detected in the software in October after a JetBlue flight from Cancún to New Jersey lost altitude and was forced to make an emergency landing in Florida.

The JetBlue flight’s altitude drop is believed to be due to intense solar radiation interference. That intense interference corrupted the computer data controlling the aircraft’s elevation.

At the time Airbus issued its notice, more than 350 operators were expected to be grounded due to the update. British Airways has reported that only three of its aircraft were affected and would be updated overnight; however, American Airlines says 340 of its aircraft require the software update.

Carriers with flights to Cancún International Airport will be affected by the required Airbus software update. The required security update has caused mass cancellations as the European aerospace giant Airbus carries out immediate software updates. Some of the affected airlines include American, Avianca, Delta Air, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, Turkish Airlines, and United, all airlines with flights to Cancún International Airport.