Jetstar Cancels 90 Flights After Global Airbus A320 Recall Triggers Disruptions Across Australia

What happened — and why flights were grounded

Budget carrier Jetstar Airways has cancelled around 90 domestic and international flights across Australia after a global recall prompted by a software issue affecting the A320 aircraft family.

On 28 November 2025, the plane manufacturer Airbus ordered “immediate precautionary action” on a “significant number” of its A320 jets — including reverting a recent software update after a reported flight-control malfunction in a differently operated aircraft. Jetstar’s response was swift: of its fleet of 85 A320-family planes, 34 were identified as affected. Engineers began ground checks and software reversions; until the work is done, those planes remain grounded.

Who’s impacted — and how badly

• The cancellations affected flights across all major Australian cities — including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Domestic travellers, as well as some international passengers, were among those disrupted.
• Jetstar confirmed that 20 of the affected planes were cleared mid-Saturday, with the rest expected to return to service by Sunday evening. However, the airline warned that residual delays and some further cancellations could ripple into coming days as the network regains balance.
• Thousands of passengers were affected. Witness reports and airline statements described long queues at airports, widespread rebooking demands, and a surge in traveller frustration and uncertainty.

What Airbus says — and why the recall matters

The recall follows a mid-air incident involving another airline’s A320, in which a flight-control malfunction — potentially linked to software vulnerabilities exacerbated by intense solar radiation — led to a sudden altitude drop.

Airbus and global aviation regulators swiftly issued an alert to all operators of A320-family aircraft, ordering urgent software reversions and additional checks before affected planes could fly again. Globally, the recall affects an estimated 6,000–6,500 jets — more than half of the in-service A320 fleet.

Airbus described the recall as “precautionary” but necessary, stressing that while no widespread in-flight failures have been reported since the update, the potential risk — especially during high-solar-radiation conditions — required prompt action.

Airlines worldwide feel the pain — not just Jetstar

While Jetstar has been the hardest hit in Australia, the ripple effects of the recall are being felt globally. Carriers across Asia, Europe, North America and the Pacific — including those operating A320 or A320neo jets — are assessing their fleets, cancelling or delaying flights, and rushing to implement the required software changes.

In Australia, other carriers such as Virgin Australia and Qantas said their services were largely unaffected: either their A320-family jets weren’t among those impacted, or they opted to fly unaffected aircraft when possible.

What passengers should do — and what to expect next

• Check your flight status: Jetstar is contacting affected travellers via SMS and email. Passengers due to fly in the next few days should monitor the airline’s website and their booking apps.
• Flexible rebooking and refunds: Jetstar said it would offer options for rebooking, refunds or alternate flights where possible — though availability is limited during this high-travel period.
• Prepare for delays into Sunday: While most grounded jets are expected back in the air by Sunday evening, flow-on delays may continue as the airline’s schedule recovers.

What this means for Australia’s travel and aviation sector

This disruption serves as a stark reminder of how vulnerable global air travel can be — even in peacetime — when technical issues emerge in widely used aircraft models. For Jetstar, which relies heavily on the A320 family, the recall has exposed the downside of fleet homogeneity.

For travellers, the timing couldn’t be worse — arriving at the start of the Australian summer travel rush. Many holiday plans, family reunions and year-end commitments are now hanging in the balance.

In the longer term, airlines may face pressure to diversify aircraft fleets or demand more robust failsafes for critical software systems. Regulators around the world may also impose stricter certification or inspection protocols for flight-control systems exposed to environmental hazards like solar radiation.