The airman held his breath after Airbus announced an urgent maintenance action on A320 family aircraft. It is one of the largest such operations in aviation history, covering as many as 6000 machines worldwide. For Poles who often use cheap flights, this means potential delays, cancellations and chaos at airports. Is your Christmas trip at risk? We are looking at how this situation affects the Polish sky.
What happened? Airbus Service share details
Airbus issued an urgent recommendation for aircraft operators of the A320 family (including models A318, A319, A320 and A321) to immediately implement the software update. Reason? Analysis of the recent incident revealed that intense solar radiation could damage the data key to flight control systems. This could lead to uncontrolled rudder movements, and in worst-case scenario, to exceeding the structural strength of the aircraft.
The incident that started the whole case occurred in October 2025. JetBlue A320 aircraft flying from Mexico to New Jersey had to crash-land after a flight control problem. Several passengers suffered injuries and the machine was grounded until the investigation. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD), ordering the replacement or modification of the ELAC (Elevator Aileron Computer) computer before the next flight after 29 November 2025. This means that from Sunday many aircraft may remain on the ground until they pass the necessary maintenance work.
Airbus apologized for the inconvenience and stressed that safety is a priority. The action concerns more than half of the global A320 fleet – about 6000 aircraft. Airlines like American Airlines (340 machines), Easyjet or Wizz Air have already announced interference.
Polish perspective: Which lines and how many aircraft affected?
In Poland, we do not have a national carrier heavily dependent on A320, but the situation will hit many passengers anyway. LOT Polish Airlines, our main line, is not directly affected – their fleet consists mainly of Boeings (787 Dreamliner, 737) and Embraers. Although LOT ordered 40 Airbus A220 aircraft in June 2025 (with an option for more), these machines do not belong to the A320 family and are not recalled. The A220 supplies for LOT are only planned from 2027.
We will feel the greatest influence through Wizz Air – a Hungarian low-cost line with a huge operating base in Poland. Wizz Air operates a fleet of over 230 Airbus A320 and A321 aircrafta significant part of which may need to be updated. The line confirmed that some of their machines are under action and planning maintenance work. Wizz Air has bases at Polish airports, including Warsaw (Modlin), Krakow, Gdańsk, Katowice and Wrocław. In 2025, they planned to increase operations in Poland by 24%, but now this may change.
Other flights to Poland from A320 include:
- Easyjet: Flights to Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk – the line expects "certain disturbances".
- Lufthansa and Eurowings: Connections from Frankfurt, Munich to Polish cities.
- Air France, British Airways or Ryanair (although Ryanair uses Boeings, their partners may be affected).
It is estimated that several dozen A320 aircraft fly daily in Poland, mainly on European routes. Wizz Air operates hundreds of flights per week, which means that up to 20-30% of their fleet in Polish bases can be grounded for days or weeks.
Where do you expect to be hindered? Polish airports under pressure
The service action can cause a cascade of problems on the largest Polish aviation hubs. This is where the worst will be:
- Chopin Airport in Warsaw (WAW): Main port for international flights. Wizz Air and Easyjet have multiple connections here. Expect delays on flights to London, Paris or Budapest. The piston on terminals may increase, especially in the pre-Christmas period.
- Kraków-Balice (KRK): Wizz Air Base with flights to Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. Possible cancellations, which will hit tourists visiting Kraków.
- Gdansk (GDN): Popular for flights to Norway and the UK. Easyjet and Wizz Air can limit operations, causing longer queues for severance.
- Katowice (KTW) and Wrocław (WRO): Strong Wizz Air bases for charter and low-cost flights. Here service work can ground the machines for longer, leading to flight redirections.
- Smaller airports like Poznań or Modlin: Modlin is the key base of Wizz Air – if the planes do not take off, the whole schedule can fall apart.
Distortions can take several days or even weeks, depending on the availability of parts and mechanics. The Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) in Poland monitors the situation and recommends checking flight status. In worst-case scenario, passengers may be stuck at airports and tickets to alternative connections will travel.
What if you have a scheduled flight? Advice for passengers
If you're flying in the next few days, don't panic, but be prepared:
- Check flight status: Use the airline application or pages like Flightradar24. Wizz Air and Easyjet promise to inform passengers directly.
- Passenger rights: Under EU regulations (Regulation 261/2004), you are entitled to refund, alternative flight or compensation (up to EUR 600, depending on the distance).
- Insurance: Check your travel policy – many cover delays.
- Alternatives: Consider trains or buses for shorter routes, such as Berlin or Vienna.
- Contact Line: Call the customer service of the airline [Wizz Air (tel. +48 22 321 00 00) or Easyjet], but prepare for a long wait.
Airbus assures you that after the upgrade the fleet will be safer than ever.
If you have experience with delays or questions, share in the comment.
