Air passengers in India and several other countries may face delays this weekend after Airbus ordered an immediate software update for A320-family aircraft worldwide. The update is mandatory and requires airlines to temporarily ground planes to fix a potential flight-control problem linked to intense solar radiation.
According to media reports, the issue affects one of the world’s largest aircraft fleets, making it one of the biggest recalls in Airbus’s history. When the alert was issued, nearly 3,000 A320-family jets were in the air globally. Airlines have been asked to complete all updates by early next week.
In India, aviation experts say close to 400 aircraft could be impacted. According to DGCA data, 338 A320-family jets operated by Indian carriers need the software upgrade, and more than half have already been modified. The DGCA issued mandatory instructions on November 29 and is monitoring progress closely. While no cancellations have been reported yet, some flights are running 60–90 minutes late as airlines carry out the updates.
IndiGo is facing the largest operational load. Out of 200 aircraft requiring modifications, the airline says it has completed updates on 160 and expects to finish the rest soon. Air India has completed software and hardware work on over 40% of its 113 affected aircraft, while Air India Express says 31 of its A320-family jets require checks. All three carriers say they have not cancelled flights so far, though some delays or rescheduling may occur.
Media reports say that the urgent directive follows an October incident involving a JetBlue A320 that suddenly lost altitude mid-flight, injuring at least 15 people. Airbus found that a similar vulnerability could affect A318, A319, A320 and A321 models. In response, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued an emergency order requiring airlines to install updated ELAC units before operating the aircraft again. Without the fix, regulators warn that unexpected elevator movements could exceed an aircraft’s structural limits.
Globally, airlines are also dealing with disruptions. American Airlines has revised its number of affected planes to 209, Japan’s ANA has cancelled dozens of flights, Air New Zealand has grounded aircraft for checks, and Avianca says more than 70% of its fleet is affected, forcing it to halt ticket sales until December 8.
Airbus has apologised for the inconvenience but says safety remains its top priority. Passengers are advised to check their flight status regularly, as minor delays are likely until airlines complete the mandated updates.
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