United Airlines Temporarily Grounds Airbus A321neo Fleet Due to ‘No Smoking’ Sign Issue

United Airlines has temporarily removed its newly acquired Airbus A321neo aircraft from operation after discovering that pilots cannot deactivate the ‘no smoking’ signs, a feature that is supposed to remain active during flights. The issue was first highlighted by aviation experts on the social media platform X and later confirmed by reports that United sought a special exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Despite the longstanding ban on smoking on both domestic and international flights since the early ’90s, regulations stipulate that there should be a manual option to control the ‘no smoking’ signs within the aircraft cabin. Over time, several U.S. carriers have obtained regulatory waivers allowing these signs to be permanently illuminated without manual intervention by the cockpit crew.

United Airlines, in its communication to the FAA, pointed out that its Boeing fleet already operates under a similar exemption, with ‘no smoking’ signs that cannot be manually turned off. However, the Airbus A321neo’s software is configured to also keep the seat belt signs perpetually active, lacking pilot override capabilities—a detail overlooked before the aircraft’s service introduction.

In response to the situation, United stated, “We are removing our five Airbus A321neo aircraft from service while we seek FAA approval for the ‘No Smoking’ sign to remain automatically illuminated rather than operated from the cockpit.”

United Airlines worked diligently to mitigate customer impact, reallocating different aircraft types to cover the A321neo’s scheduled routes, avoiding flight cancellations. The FAA has since allowed the A321neo fleet to resume operations as it reviews United’s exemption request, showcasing a swift response to ensure compliance and minimal service disruption. Other airlines, including Allegiant and Frontier, have also submitted similar requests for their Airbus fleets, though they have not grounded their aircraft pending approval.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, paddleyourownkanoo.com