Air France is counting the exact number of canceled flights on November 29, and the day before, the carrier canceled 35 flights departing from all French airports. An Air France spokesperson told BFMTV.
On November 28, European aviation group Airbus announced that inspections had discovered a detrimental effect of solar radiation on critical flight control data. The manufacturer subsequently launched an emergency software update for its A320 series airliners. To accomplish this, Airbus decided to recall 6,000 aircraft.
Amid the flight cancellations, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that disruptions to airlines’ flight schedules, including Air France, were entirely expected. He added that “despite the inconvenience,” he commends “the promptness of this responsible and preventative decision.”
The situation also affected approximately 340 American Airlines aircraft, with the company warning of schedule delays, BFMTV reports.
Colombian airline Avianca estimates the recall has affected 70% of its fleet, with “significant disruptions” expected over the next ten days, and ticket sales have been suspended until December 8.
