Airbus Identifies Quality Issue in A320 Metal Panels, Conducts Global Inspections

Airbus conducts inspections across affected A320 aircraft

Airbus confirmed that a quality issue has been identified in metal panels on a limited number of A320 aircraft, prompting inspections across the affected units. The company stated that the issue has been “contained” and that newly produced panels meet requirements.

Airbus said, “Airbus confirms it has identified a supplier quality issue affecting a limited number of A320 metal panels,” adding, “Airbus is taking a conservative approach and is inspecting all aircraft potentially impacted — knowing that only a portion of them will need further action to be taken.”

The company further stated, “The source of the issue has been identified, contained, and all newly produced panels conform to all requirements.”

Shares in Airbus fell more than 10 per cent in Paris trading following media reports of potential delivery delays linked to fuselage panel problems on A320 aircraft. Airbus shares were down 10.24 per cent at around 1200 GMT, while the Paris market showed a slight decline, before the company recovered part of the losses.

This development follows a separate incident involving a software update issue, with some 6,000 A320 planes requiring action after an in-flight control malfunction was reported in the United States. Airbus later clarified that fewer than one hundred aircraft remained grounded due to the issue.

On October 30, a JetBlue-operated A320 reported an in-flight control issue caused by a computer malfunction apparently linked to solar radiation. The aircraft, travelling between Cancun, Mexico, and Newark, United States, made an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida.

Analysts at Deutsche Bank said that Airbus had not revised its guidance for aircraft deliveries this year, indicating that the impact of the software update was still being evaluated or had been contained.

The A320 family has been in production since 1988 and remains the world’s best-selling commercial aircraft. Airbus recorded sales of twelve thousand two hundred and fifty-seven A320 aircraft by the end of September, slightly ahead of Boeing’s twelve thousand two hundred and fifty-four 737 aircraft.