Vietnamese airlines race to meet software-update deadline for Airbus A320 fleet

A total of 81 out of 169 A320-family jets operating in the country must be updated before 6:59 am on Sunday (local time) to ensure flight safety.

Vietnam Airlines confirmed on Saturday morning that it had received both Airbus’ instruction and guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) requiring the full A320/A321 fleet to undergo the update.

The air carrier immediately launched inspections and rolled out an update plan across its technical hubs at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Da Nang International Airport in Da Nang City, and Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

Equipped with the necessary tools, manuals, and software provided by Airbus, technicians began working overnight.

Each update is expected to take roughly one hour per aircraft.

Vietnam Airlines pledged to finish the task on schedule, fully meeting regulatory requirements by the planemaker and the aviation authority.

The airline said that its operations on Saturday and Sunday would continue normally.

Safety, the airline reiterated, remains its top priority, and it will strictly adhere to all technical mandates to maintain stable and secure operations.

Meanwhile, Vietjet reported that it is racing to complete the updates, even bringing in additional equipment from Thailand to speed up the process.

According to the CAAV, 81 of the 169 A320/A321 aircraft in Vietnam fall within the mandatory update list, an issue that could potentially disrupt flight schedules.

The authority instructed local airlines to prepare contingency plans and provide maximum support for passengers affected by flight delays or cancelations.

A320/A321 fleet composition in Vietnam

Data from Planespotters.net shows that Vietnam Airlines Group, comprising Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO, operates 101 aircraft, including 62 A321s and three A320s, alongside wide-body aircraft and ATR72s.

Vietjet’s fleet stands at 97 jets, featuring 16 A320s, 73 A321s, and several Airbus A330s.

Bamboo Airways operates seven aircraft, including two A320s, four A321s, and one Boeing 737.

Newcomer Sun PhuQuoc Airways flies four A321s, while Vietravel Airlines operates three aircraft, including one A320.

Airbus has released the urgent directive for software updates on roughly 6,000 A320 aircraft worldwide after discovering that intense solar radiation can distort critical flight-control data.