Flight Delays, Cancellations Expected as A320 Family Aircraft Face Technical Issue

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Flight operations of IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are set to face significant disruptions as the airlines begin corrective action on a potential flight control issue affecting a large number of Airbus A320 family aircraft. According to industry sources, between 200 and 250 aircraft in India will require software changes or hardware realignment, resulting in temporary grounding and schedule adjustments.

Airbus on Friday revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt data critical to flight controls in certain A320 family jets. The aircraft manufacturer said the required software updates and component changes would inevitably lead to operational disruptions across global fleets.

India operates nearly 560 A320 family aircraft, and a substantial portion of these will undergo mandatory checks based on the Airbus alert and subsequent directives from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

EASA Orders Immediate Fix Before Next Flight

EASA’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive instructs airlines to install a serviceable Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) in all affected aircraft before further operations. The ELAC is a vital component of the jet’s flight control system.

The directive follows a recent incident where an A320 experienced an uncommanded pitch-down event. Although the autopilot remained engaged and the aircraft recovered safely, preliminary analysis indicated a malfunctioning ELAC—possibly impacted by solar radiation as a contributing factor.

EASA warned that if the issue is not corrected, it could, in extreme cases, lead to uncommanded elevator movement that may exceed the aircraft’s structural limits.

Indian Airlines Begin Precautionary Action

IndiGo, which operates the largest A320 fleet in the country, said it is working closely with Airbus to implement the mandated software inspections.

“We are making every effort to minimise disruptions,” the airline said.

Air India Express stated that it has initiated immediate precautionary action, noting that 31 of its A320-family aircraft are impacted. It warned of potential delays and cancellations as part of the global compliance process.

Air India, in a post on X, acknowledged the Airbus directive and said the software and hardware reset would cause longer turnaround times and possible schedule delays until the entire fleet is updated.

None of the carriers disclosed the total number of affected aircraft independently.

Airbus Responds, Assures Safety

Airbus acknowledged that its recommendations would lead to substantial operational disruptions, apologising to airlines and passengers. The manufacturer said it is working proactively with global regulators via an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT) to ensure all aircraft are safe to operate.