Avianca Grounds Airbus A320 Fleet Over Software Flaw, Impacting Central America

Colombian carrier Avianca announced significant flight disruptions across its network, particularly impacting Central American routes, due to critical software issues identified in its Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline anticipates these operational setbacks to last at least 10 days, leading to widespread cancellations and delays for passengers in countries like Costa Rica and El Salvador. Avianca, which operates approximately 100 A320-family jets comprising 70% of its fleet, has halted ticket sales through December 8 and is actively contacting affected travelers to offer rebooking and refund options.

These disruptions stem from an urgent airworthiness directive issued by European manufacturer Airbus, mandating immediate software fixes for thousands of A320-family jets globally. The directive follows the discovery of a flaw in the flight control software, rendering it vulnerable to solar radiation interference and potentially causing sudden altitude changes. This vulnerability gained prominence after a JetBlue flight from Cancún experienced a sharp altitude drop on October 30, resulting in passenger injuries and an emergency landing. The recall affects roughly 6,000 of the 11,300 A320-family aircraft in service worldwide, marking a significant action in Airbus's history.

The grounding of Avianca's A320s is set to severely impact Central America, where the airline maintains key hubs in San Salvador and significant operations in San José, Costa Rica. Flights connecting Costa Rica to Colombian cities, Mexico City, and Panama City are particularly at risk. The timing is critical for Costa Rica's tourism sector, coinciding with the start of its high season. Beyond Avianca, other operators like Mexico's Volaris, also an A320 user, have reported potential delays. The ripple effect extends across Latin America, with major airports like Bogotá's El Dorado International bracing for heavy impacts, and regional economies reliant on air travel facing considerable strain.