Indian Airlines Complete Critical Airbus A320 Software Upgrade Following Global Safety Alert

For now, widespread flight disruptions remain unlikely across Indian carriers.

New Delhi:

Indian airlines are swiftly implementing a critical software and hardware upgrade across their Airbus A320 fleets following a worldwide safety directive issued by the European aircraft manufacturer. As of Saturday evening, approximately 80% of India's A320 aircraft have already received the mandatory update, with carriers working diligently to achieve full compliance before tonight's safety deadline expires.

According to information provided by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 338 A320-series aircraft operated by IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express required immediate software realignment after Airbus identified vulnerabilities in a crucial flight-control system. Thus far, 270 aircraft have successfully completed the upgrade process.

IndiGo, which manages India's most extensive A320 fleet, had 200 aircraft requiring updates. The airline has already completed software upgrades on 184 planes and anticipates finishing the remaining aircraft by 11:59 pm Saturday. IndiGo confirmed that no flights have been cancelled during this process, with maintenance work being conducted across their major operational bases in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata.

Air India reported comparable progress with approximately 80 of its 113 affected aircraft—including 104 A320neo and nine A320ceo jets—having undergone the necessary realignment. The airline has maintained its full operational schedule without cancellations while performing upgrades at stations throughout Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.

Air India Express, operating a smaller A320 fleet, has experienced the most noticeable impact. Of 25 aircraft requiring updates, 17 have been completed. The carrier has cancelled four flights so far, with additional delay information still being compiled. Full compliance is expected by day's end, with work being performed at bases in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

'Minimal Impact On Operations'

Air India Express stated that engineering teams have been working continuously with Airbus to minimize passenger disruptions.

"We have completed the precautionary safety actions on the majority of our Airbus A320 fleet, with the remaining aircraft on track for completion within the advised timeline. This has been achieved with minimal impact on operations through the coordinated efforts of our engineering, operations, and flight safety teams. Air India Express continues to work closely with Airbus and the relevant authorities, reaffirming our commitment to safe and reliable operations," according to a statement from Air India Express.

Should Passengers Expect Disruptions?

Currently, widespread cancellations seem improbable. Both IndiGo and Air India have confirmed that the mandatory update has not necessitated flight cancellations. However, passengers might experience delays or minor rescheduling as aircraft undergo maintenance checks that extend turnaround times.

Airlines have advised travelers to verify their flight status before departing for the airport, given the increased maintenance activities across multiple hubs.

Why Is This Happening

The comprehensive software fix on A320-family aircraft follows a global directive from Airbus, initiated after a recent incident where the flight-control computer—specifically the "elevator/aileron computer (ELAC)"—was identified as potentially vulnerable to corruption when exposed to intense solar radiation.

Because the A320-family is extensively utilized globally—including by Indian carriers—the update affects approximately 6,000 aircraft worldwide according to Airbus.

The DGCA has issued a mandatory airworthiness directive requiring all Indian operators of A320-family jets to complete the software (or hardware, if necessary) upgrade before their next scheduled flights.