Airbus A320 Malfunction: Full List of Affected Airlines — From Lufthansa to IndiGo

Updated on November 29, 2025

Global flight operations faced widespread disruptions from late Friday into Saturday morning after Airbus issued an urgent directive involving nearly 6,000 Airbus A320-family aircraft. The move came after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) linked a faulty Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) to an incident in October where a JetBlue A320 experienced an unexpected drop in altitude.

The directive requires airlines to realign and update critical aircraft software before operating flights again, forcing carriers worldwide to delay, cancel, or reschedule flights.

Below is the complete list of globally affected airlines and the impact on their operations.

---

Why the Airbus A320 Software Update Is Required

The issue stems from a software misalignment in the ELAC system—an essential component controlling pitch, roll, and flight stability. EASA has mandated that all affected aircraft undergo the software fix before returning to service, prioritising passenger safety and preventing similar incidents.

Global Airlines Affected by the Airbus A320 Directive

1. Air India

Air India confirmed that a section of its Airbus A320 fleet requires the software realignment, which may result in delays on select routes. The airline is coordinating with aviation authorities to complete updates as quickly as possible.

---

2. American Airlines

American Airlines, which operates the world’s largest A320 fleet, has been significantly impacted.

• 340 out of 480 aircraft need the software fix.
• The airline expects to complete all updates by Saturday, with temporary delays likely.

---

3. IndiGo

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, said it is working closely with regulators to complete precautionary updates.

• Passengers can expect delays across some domestic and international sectors, depending on aircraft availability.

---

4. Lufthansa

The German carrier reported minor cancellations and delays.

• The software update takes several hours per aircraft, slowing weekend operations.

---

5. Volaris (Mexico)

Volaris announced 48–72 hours of likely flight delays as it conducts fleet-wide A320 software checks.

---

6. Avianca (Colombia)

One of the most affected globally:

• 70% of its Airbus fleet falls under the directive.
• Avianca has paused ticket sales until December 8 due to expected disruptions over the next 10 days.

---

7. Wizz Air

Wizz Air expects weekend delays, but has already begun rapid maintenance scheduling to ensure full compliance with the Airbus requirement.

---

8. British Airways

The impact on BA is minimal.

• Only three Airbus A320-family aircraft require the update.
• BA does not expect significant operational disruption.

---

9. Air France

Air France cancelled 35 flights after the Airbus directive was issued. The airline is executing updates to resume normal operations.

---

10. easyJet

easyJet has already updated the software on many of its A320 aircraft and expects to return to normal operations soon.

---

11. Air New Zealand

The airline is updating its A320neo fleet, leading to Saturday schedule disruptions. Other aircraft types remain unaffected.

---

12. LATAM Airlines

The update applies only to LATAM aircraft operating in

• Colombia, Chile, and Peru.
  Aircraft operated in Brazil and Ecuador do not require the fix.

---

13. Turkish Airlines

All eight Airbus A320 aircraft in the Turkish Airlines fleet are undergoing the required realignment.

• The airline expects to maintain operational safety and resume normal services shortly.

---

14. Viva (Mexico)

Viva Aerobus confirmed flight disruptions, although it has not given a clear timeline for when normal operations will resume.

---

15. Aer Lingus

The Irish carrier expects minimal operational impact as only a limited number of aircraft need the software updates.

---

16. Azul SA

Azul reported that none of its Airbus A320 aircraft are included in the current recall.

---

What Passengers Should Expect

• Delays and rescheduling across affected airlines
• Potential flight cancellations, mostly short-term
• Longer airport wait times as fleets undergo realignment
• Real-time updates on airline mobile apps and websites

For travellers, checking flight status frequently is advisable until global fleets complete Airbus-mandated updates.

---

Conclusion

The Airbus A320 software directive is one of the largest coordinated global aircraft maintenance actions in recent years. While the realignment involves short-term inconvenience, airlines and regulators emphasize that the update is crucial for long-term flight safety. As fleets complete the mandated fix, operations are expected to normalize within days for most carriers, while heavily affected airlines may take longer.