The aviation world held its breath after Airbus announced an urgent service campaign for A320-family aircraft. It is one of the largest such operations in aviation history, covering as many as 6,000 aircraft worldwide. For Poles, who often fly budget airlines, it means possible delays, cancellations and chaos at airports. Is your Christmas trip at risk? We check how this situation will affect Polish skies.
What happened? Details of the Airbus service campaign
Airbus has issued an urgent recommendation to operators of A320-family aircraft (including the A318, A319, A320 and A321) to immediately install a software update. The reason? An analysis of a recent incident revealed that intense solar radiation can corrupt data critical to flight control systems. This could lead to uncontrolled movements of the control surfaces and, in the worst case, to the aircraft exceeding its structural limits.
The incident that started the whole matter took place in October 2025. A JetBlue A320 flying from Mexico to New Jersey had to make an emergency landing after a flight control problem. Several passengers were injured, and the aircraft was grounded pending an investigation. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD), requiring the replacement or modification of the ELAC (Elevator Aileron Computer) before the next flight after 29 November 2025. This means that from Sunday, many aircraft may remain on the ground until they have undergone the necessary service work.
Airbus apologised for the inconvenience and stressed that safety is its priority. The campaign affects more than half of the global A320 fleet, around 6,000 aircraft. Airlines such as American Airlines (340 aircraft), easyJet and Wizz Air have already announced disruptions.
The Polish perspective: which airlines and how many aircraft are affected?
Poland does not have a national carrier heavily dependent on the A320, but the situation will still hit many passengers. LOT Polish Airlines, our main carrier, is not directly affected, as its 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 aircraft do not belong to the A320 family and are not subject to the recall. Deliveries of the A220 to LOT are scheduled only from 2027.
The biggest impact will be felt through Wizz Air, the Hungarian low-cost airline with a huge operating base in Poland. Wizz Air operates a fleet of more than 230 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, a significant part of which may require the update. The airline has confirmed that some of its aircraft are covered by the campaign and that it plans service work. Wizz Air has bases at Polish airports, including Warsaw (Modlin), Kraków, Gdańsk, Katowice and Wrocław. In 2025 it planned to grow its operations in Poland by 24%, but this may now change.
Other airlines flying to Poland with the A320 include, among others:
- easyJet: flights to Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk, with the airline expecting „certain disruptions”.
- Lufthansa and Eurowings: connections from Frankfurt and Munich to Polish cities.
- Air France, British Airways, or Ryanair (although Ryanair uses Boeings, its partners may be affected).
It is estimated that dozens of A320 aircraft fly in and out of Poland every day, mainly on European routes. Wizz Air operates hundreds of flights a week from here, which means that as many as 20-30% of its fleet based at Polish bases could be grounded for days or weeks.
Where to expect disruption? Polish airports under pressure
The service campaign could cause a cascade of problems at Poland’s largest aviation hubs. Here is where it will be worst:
- Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW): The main port for international flights. Wizz Air and easyJet have numerous connections here. Expect delays on flights to London, Paris or Budapest. Crowds in the terminals may grow, especially in the pre-Christmas period.
- Kraków-Balice (KRK): A Wizz Air base with flights to Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. Cancellations are possible, which will hit tourists visiting Kraków.
- Gdańsk (GDN): Popular for flights to Norway and the United Kingdom. easyJet and Wizz Air may reduce operations, causing longer queues at check-in.
- Katowice (KTW) and Wrocław (WRO): Strong Wizz Air bases for charter and low-cost flights. Here, service work may ground aircraft for longer, leading to flight diversions.
- Smaller airports such as Poznań or Modlin: Modlin is a key Wizz Air base. If aircraft fail to take off, the entire schedule could fall apart.
Disruption may last several days or even weeks, depending on the availability of parts and mechanics. The Civil Aviation Authority of Poland (ULC) is monitoring the situation and recommends checking the status of flights. In the worst case, passengers may get stuck at airports, and tickets for alternative connections may become more expensive.
What to do if you have a flight booked? Advice for passengers
If you are flying in the coming days, do not panic, but be prepared:
- Check your flight status: Use the airline’s app or sites such as Flightradar24. Wizz Air and easyJet promise to inform passengers directly.
- Passenger rights: Under EU regulations (Regulation 261/2004), if a flight is cancelled due to the service campaign, you have the right to a refund, an alternative flight or compensation (up to 600 euros, depending on the distance).
- Insurance: Check your travel insurance policy, as many cover delays.
- Alternatives: Consider trains or buses for shorter routes, e.g. to Berlin or Vienna.
- Contact the airline: Call the customer service of the airline [Wizz Air (tel. +48 22 321 00 00) or easyJet], but be prepared for a long wait.
Airbus assures that after the update the fleet will be safer than ever.
If you have experiences with delays or questions, share them in the comments.
