‘No Person Shall Operate...’: Regulator Issues A320 Directive As Air India, IndiGo Warn Of Delays
Air travelers are bracing for potential disruptions as a technical directive affecting Airbus A320 family aircraft has been issued, prompting both Air India and IndiGo to announce possible delays and schedule adjustments. The directive, stemming from concerns about the impact of intense solar radiation on flight controls, necessitates software and hardware updates across a significant portion of the global A320 fleet.
The directive impacts over 6,500 jets globally and requires updates before an aircraft’s next regular flight. The alert was triggered by an incident involving a JetBlue A320 flight in October where a sudden drop in altitude resulted in an emergency landing and minor injuries to 15 passengers. Investigations suggested that intense solar radiation could corrupt data in the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC), a critical flight-control system.
Air India acknowledged the directive from Airbus, stating that it will lead to a software/hardware realignment on a part of its fleet, causing longer turnaround times and potential delays. The airline is urging passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport and has provided contact information for assistance. Air India operates 104 A320 family aircraft, including those recently retrofitted with new cabin interiors and livery following the merger with Vistara.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, also confirmed that it is aware of the Airbus advisory and is diligently implementing the mandated updates across its A320 aircraft, emphasizing that "safety comes first". While the airline works through these precautionary updates, some flights may experience slight schedule changes. IndiGo has assured customers that its teams are available 24/7 to support with rebooking, updates, and information, advising passengers to check their flight status on the airline's app or website.
Air India Express has also initiated precautionary action, anticipating potential adjustments to flight operations, including possible delays or cancellations, even though most of its aircraft are not impacted.
Airbus has stated that more than half of its active A320 jetliner family fleet will require a software update. The A320 family includes A319s, A320 ceos and neos, and A321 ceos and neos. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Airbus mandated updates to affected aircraft to prevent similar incidents.
Other airlines globally are also affected. American Airlines anticipates some delays while updating its 340 A320-family planes. Air France already cancelled 35 flights and is reviewing further cancellations. Avianca is warning of significant disruption over the next 10 days with around 70% of its fleet impacted.
