Airbus software update halts ops

The Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines grounded portions of their Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft on Saturday following a global directive to install a mandatory software update which led to flight disruptions. 

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez said they were notified at around 1 a.m. issued by Airbus and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) which required operators worldwide to implement the software update on affected aircraft. 

Lopez said the directive followed two incidents abroad, both involving the affected Airbus models: one on 30 October and another on 7 November in the United States. 

The transportation secretary noted that this is a worldwide issue, with around 6,000 aircraft affected worldwide. 

Between the three carriers, 75 aircraft required the update. As of Saturday morning, 19 out of 45 aircraft have been updated in Cebu Pacific, 11 of 28 in PAL, while all affected aircraft of AirAsia have been completed. 

“That is what we need to convey. What happened here, and why we preferred and deemed it best to take these precautionary measures, is because what prevails in the Department of Transportation, in CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines), in CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board), along with our airlines, is the safety of our passengers,” Lopez added.

Air Carriers Association of the Philippines' Executive Director Jose EL Perez de Tagle said the update takes around two hours for one aircraft and it is expected to be resolved by noon of Sunday. 

“So by noontime, 24 hours from now,  We should be seeing a significant increase in the operations of the airlines and hopefully it will be a more normal situation,” he said. “What the airlines will try to do is still minimize and take care of our passengers in the coming hours as well so that we minimize the inconvenience.”

A CAAP airworthiness check before the plane can re-enter service will be conducted. Approximately 14,000 passengers were affected.

Carriers said passengers on affected flights are being rebooked or given options for refund or travel credits. 

Wide-body aircraft (A330s, A350s, Boeing 777s) remain unaffected and continue normal operations.