Vietnam aviation authority orders maximum passenger support amid Airbus technical updates

According to the CAAV, 81 out of 169 A320/A321 planes in Vietnam are affected by a mandatory software update issued in an emergency directive by Airbus.

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

The Europe-based planemaker said on Friday it was ordering immediate repairs to 6,000 of its widely used A320 family of jets in a sweeping recall affecting more than half the global fleet.

“Intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” according to the planemaker.

Local airlines have been instructed to notify passengers promptly and facilitate flight changes or refunds without additional fees.

Domestic airline schedules may change in the coming days as carriers have to implement the urgent safety order for the Airbus A320/ A321 fleet.

The requirement, issued by both Airbus and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), involves updating a flight system called ELAC (Elevator and Aileron Computer), which sends commands from the pilot's side-stick to elevators at the rear.

Following the planemaker’s order, the CAAV convened an emergency meeting with airlines that same night.

The affected 81 A320/A321 aircraft are primarily operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet.

Some flights may be rescheduled or canceled on Sunday and Monday to comply with the safety order.

A320: Backbone of Vietnam’s short- and medium-haul flights

The Airbus A320, a narrow-body aircraft seating 150-180 passengers, is widely used worldwide for short- and medium-haul routes.

Its fuel efficiency, operational flexibility, and low costs have made it a core component of the fleets of Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, and Bamboo Airways.

A senior executive of a local airline told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in the early hours of Saturday that teams had held overnight meetings to implement the ELAC software updates.

Airlines are mobilizing specialized equipment and technical staff to minimize downtime, which takes one to three hours per aircraft.

During this period, planes are grounded, potentially affecting flight rotations.

CAAV orders free flight changes and refunds

To mitigate the disruption, the CAAV instructed the Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, and Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation to ensure safe airport operations and assist passengers.

Airlines must strictly comply with the Emergency Airworthiness Directive, review flight schedules, and minimize passenger inconvenience.

Passengers affected by delays or cancelations should receive timely notifications and may change flights, receive refunds, or be rebooked on the next available flight at no extra charge.

Globally, aviation experts warned of potential widespread disruption, with international airports advising travelers to check flight status in advance.

While software updates take approximately two hours per jet, the dense schedules of many airlines raise the risk of weekend delays and cancelations.

The CAAV urged passengers to monitor flight information via airline apps, SMS, or hotlines and to request assistance for changes or refunds if needed.

Local airlines and airports are required to report difficulties to the CAAV promptly to ensure safety and maintain uninterrupted air transport operations.

CAAV orders free flight changes, refunds

Industry sources said the incident that triggered the unexpected repair action involved a JetBlue flight from Cancun, Mexico to Newark, New Jersey on October 30, in which several passengers were hurt following a sharp loss of altitude.

That A320 jet made an emergency landing at Tampa, Florida after a flight control problem and a sudden uncommanded drop in altitude, prompting a Federal Aviation Administration investigation.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency late on Friday issued an emergency directive making the fix mandatory.