Indian airlines are gearing up for a wave of flight delays and cancellations following a new safety alert from Airbus regarding its A320 family aircraft. The European aerospace giant has warned that heightened solar radiation could compromise the functionality of key flight control computers. This necessitates immediate action, potentially grounding hundreds of aircraft across India. With the nation operating approximately 560 A320-type jets, it’s anticipated that as many as 200-250 might need urgent software upgrades or minor hardware modifications. These necessary fixes will cause short-term disruptions to flight schedules, particularly impacting domestic routes heavily serviced by A320s. IndiGo has confirmed it’s working through the required updates, advising passengers of possible minor delays. Air India Express is also implementing precautionary measures and has warned of potential schedule disruptions. Air India has stated that specific A320s in its fleet will undergo necessary technical adjustments, which may lead to extended turnaround times and further delays. Airbus has prioritized passenger safety and is providing full support to airlines for the swift implementation of these critical updates. The impetus for this global warning came after an A320 experienced an uncommanded descent, reportedly due to a malfunction in the primary Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC). As a result, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency order requiring airlines to install updated ELAC units before further flight.
