The European manufacturer had warned on Friday that the aircraft could not return to service until the update was completed…reports Asian Lite News
Global air travel faced the risk of significant disruptions over the weekend after Airbus issued an urgent software update for its A320 aircraft, one of the world’s most widely used planes.
The European manufacturer had warned on Friday that the aircraft could not return to service until the update was completed, following an incident in the United States that highlighted a potential flight-control vulnerability linked to intense solar radiation.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged the disruption in a statement on LinkedIn, saying, “The software fix has caused significant logistical challenges and delays, but operators are working around the clock to deploy the update as swiftly as possible to get planes back in the sky.” He added, “We sincerely apologize to our airline customers and passengers affected, but safety remains our top priority.”
The directive affected nearly 6,000 A320 aircraft globally. However, airlines across Europe reported minimal cancellations, while some carriers in Latin America and Asia experienced more substantial disruptions. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said that Airbus had completed updates on more than 5,000 aircraft by Friday night. “Far fewer planes than initially feared will be impacted for an extended period,” he told BFMTV, reducing earlier estimates of around 1,000 aircraft to roughly 100.
The A320, produced since 1988, remains the world’s best-selling commercial jet, with 12,257 sold by the end of September, narrowly surpassing the Boeing 737. Airlines including Air France, Lufthansa, and EasyJet reported that the majority of their A320 fleets had been updated, with limited flight delays. Air France, for instance, canceled 35 flights on Friday but said all other services would operate normally. Lufthansa confirmed that updates were completed overnight, with no major cancellations expected. EasyJet reported that all of its aircraft had received the software fix and no flights were canceled.
French Economy Minister Roland Lescure noted that most of the updates could be done remotely and were completed quickly, with minimal disruption. The urgency arose after a JetBlue A320 experienced an in-flight control issue on October 30, suddenly nosediving between Cancun, Mexico, and Newark, USA. The plane safely landed in Tampa, Florida, though some passengers sustained minor injuries. JetBlue stated that it was taking steps to minimize disruptions for its passengers.
In the United States, the impact remained limited. American airlines, which operate more Boeing aircraft than Airbus, reported minor delays. United Airlines confirmed flights continued as normal, while American Airlines grounded only four aircraft.
India, one of the largest A320 markets, faced notable but manageable disruptions. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reported that of 338 affected flights, 270 had completed the software update. IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express were the carriers most affected, though IndiGo had updated 160 of 200 impacted aircraft by Saturday afternoon, with no cancellations. Air India Express reported eight delayed flights due to ongoing updates. DGCA said it was closely monitoring operations to ensure minimal disruption.
Colombian carrier Avianca said 70% of its fleet required the update, warning of continued delays and suspending ticket sales until December 8. In the Philippines, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific grounded at least 40 flights, offering rebookings and refunds.
Australia experienced more visible disruption as Jetstar canceled or delayed around 90 flights across major domestic airports, including Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and Victoria’s Tullamarine and Avalon airports. Jetstar chief pilot Tyrone Simes attributed the issue to a flight-control computer anomaly. Melbourne Airport reported additional challenges after a terminal fire coincided with the disruptions, though all efforts were made to expedite departures. Qantas confirmed that its newer A321XLR aircraft were unaffected.
Airbus explained that the software update involved the Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC), a critical flight-control system component. While newer aircraft could receive the update within 30 minutes remotely, older A320s required additional hardware modifications, extending turnaround time. The company stressed that despite operational inconveniences, the precaution was necessary to ensure global flight safety and prevent incidents similar to the JetBlue event.
With the software update ongoing, airlines are gradually restoring normal operations worldwide. Aviation authorities and Airbus continue to monitor the situation closely, prioritizing passenger safety while managing the temporary logistical disruptions caused by the precautionary measure.
