Airlines Race Against Time to Fix Software Glitch in A320 Planes

IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are rapidly upgrading software on A320 planes due to a flight control issue linked to solar radiation. Over 90% of affected aircraft have been updated. While IndiGo ensured no flight cancellations, Air India Express had four cancellations amid the necessary upgrades.

IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express embarked on a critical mission on Saturday, addressing a software issue that had the potential to impact flight controls on their A320 fleets. The upgrades, prompted by alerts from Airbus and the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA), aimed to rectify risks of data corruption due to intense solar radiation.

Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows significant progress, with upgrades completed on over 90% of the 338 affected planes. While IndiGo managed to avoid flight cancellations, Air India Express reported four cancellations due to the necessary modifications.

The upgrades, expected to be completed by November 30, have led to operational disruptions and delays of 60-90 minutes at airports. However, both IndiGo and Air India continue to emphasize safety and compliance, with IndiGo announcing complete updates across its fleet.

(With inputs from agencies.)