Seoul: A large-scale software-related recall affecting Airbus' A320 family of jets is not anticipated to cause significant flight delays or cancellations in South Korea. The transport ministry announced that the necessary software updates are expected to be completed within a few hours.
According to Yonhap News Agency, out of the 80 A320-family aircraft operating in South Korea, 42 are part of the global recall. By 6 p.m., updates had been successfully implemented on 40 of these aircraft, with the remaining updates scheduled for completion by midnight, as reported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The update process requires less than an hour per aircraft.
A ministry official emphasized that the government is actively monitoring airline compliance in real time under the principle of "safety first" and will respond promptly to any significant delays or operational disruptions. The recall, initiated by Airbus on Friday, followed the identification of a software flaw with the potential to cause serious safety issues, including unintended rapid descent.
Airbus, acknowledging the potential impact on passengers, expressed apologies for the inconvenience and emphasized its commitment to safety as the top priority. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency directive to national aviation authorities, mandating immediate software replacement or modification before affected aircraft continue operations. This directive stemmed from an investigation into a sudden-descent incident involving a JetBlue Airways Corp. A320, which found that intense solar radiation had interfered with the aircraft's flight-control program.
EASA has required all A320 and A321 aircraft to complete the global ELAC software update by November 30. In South Korea, five airlines - Korean Air Co., Asiana Airlines Inc., Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., and Aero K Airlines Co. - operate a total of 80 A320-family jets. An Asiana Airlines official stated that 17 of its 24 A320-series jets require the software fix, noting that all updates can be completed during regular ground time, ensuring "no impact on the flight schedule."