Urgent: Specialized for" today": Effects of a crisis "Airbus" It will continue for weeks…and a possible increase in ticket prices

The scientific researcher and interest in aviation sciences, Muhammad Abdullah Dawoud, confirmed that the urgent decision taken by Airbushas recalled more than half of the global fleet of A320 aircraft after discovering a software defect that may be affected by solar radiation. This represents the largest recall in the history of the European company, and has a direct impact on global air traffic and the operations of air carriers.

He explained that the defect is related to the ELAC control system responsible for the The vital plane, noting that a similar defect had previously caused a temporary loss of control of one of the planes during a domestic flight in the United States, which prompted the company to issue a warning and recall procedures.

Daoud pointed out that many Aviationwas forced to cancel thousands of flights globally, as some companies canceled up to 70% of their operating fleet of this model, while major companies such as Air France announced the cancellation of dozens of flights immediately after the warning was issued.

Continuing disturbances

He explained that the software update can be applied quickly to a large part of the aircraft, but a number of aircraft will need physical modifications (hardware) that may take weeks or months, which means that operational disturbances will continue for a longer period.

Regarding the size of the expected losses, Daoud stated that the losses will be multifaceted, and include operational losses resulting from flight cancellations, rebooking costs, and compensation for passengers in accordance with international legislation.

In addition to high maintenance and modernization costs as a result of the great pressure on maintenance centers around the world, and a temporary decline in the confidence of some travelers, especially with the travel seasons approaching.

He added that preliminary estimates indicate that losses at the global level may exceed billions of dollars, but in the absence of an official figure, any The current estimate remains just a guess, and it is preferable to follow airline reports to monitor actual losses after completing modernization and maintenance.

Possible increase in ticket prices

Regarding the expected effects on airlines globally, Daoud said that the repercussions of the recall will not be limited to the companies that own the A320 only, but will be reflected on global aviation networks through:

• Redistribution of aircraft on routes to reduce disruption.
• Possible increase in ticket prices in some markets due to lack of operational capacity.
• Increased competition between companies that own diverse fleets and do not rely on the A320 only.
• Pressures on Low-cost airlines that rely heavily on this model.

As for how the aviation sector will deal during the next stage, Daoud indicated that the measures will include accelerating updates of digital systems for affected aircraft and raising the level of protection from risks associated with solar radiation.

In addition to adopting flexible operating plans that include rescheduling flights and using alternative aircraft where possible, strengthening regulatory control over digital aviation systems and increasing reliance on Fly-by-Wire systems.

Future Hedging

As well It will include diversifying corporate fleets to reduce the risks associated with relying on one model, and increasing transparent communication with passengers to ensure maintaining confidence in the safety of civil aviation.
Dawoud concluded his statement by saying that the current crisis represents a technical alarm bell for the global aviation industry, expecting that airlines, manufacturers and regulatory authorities will work to enhance their readiness to face modern challenges, which are no longer limited to weather conditions only, but also include space and radiation conditions that may affect the digital systems of aircraft.

He added that the sector will deal with This crisis will be an important criterion to measure its ability to protect the safety of flights and maintain the global flow of air traffic.

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