The global aviation industry has entered a state of heightened alert following Airbus’s announcement of a software malfunction in the ELAC system, which controls the elevator and aileron functions in certain Airbus A320 aircraft. Airbus issued an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT), followed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) releasing mandatory Airworthiness Directive (AD) No. 0268-2025.
This development disrupted international flight operations, with major carriers such as American Airlines, Lufthansa, IndiGo, and easyJet temporarily grounding aircraft to perform required updates. The directive affects approximately 6,000 aircraft worldwide.
Libyan Airlines: Fleet Not Affected
Libyan Airlines confirmed that its fleet is not subject to Airbus’s emergency directive. The company convened an urgent meeting involving technical departments and the Continuing Airworthiness Management Office (CAMO), under the direct supervision of the Director General and Board of Directors. After a full review coordinated with Airbus specialists, the airline verified that none of its aircraft were affected.
Despite this, Libyan Airlines engineers participated in Airbus’s emergency technical seminar to remain updated, stressing that passenger safety remains its top priority.
Afriqiyah Airways: Comprehensive Technical Review
Afriqiyah Airways initiated extensive technical checks immediately after receiving Airbus’s bulletin and EASA’s directive. A specialised team of CAMO engineers and technical managers attended Airbus’s urgent seminar and launched a full fleet review.
Upon completion, the airline confirmed that its aircraft are not included in the directive’s requirements. This was formally validated through direct communication with Airbus experts. The company praised its engineering teams for their swift response and reaffirmed that passenger and crew safety is paramount.
Berniq Airways: Preventive Measures
Berniq Airways announced that it conducted detailed inspections across its fleet as soon as the alert was received. The airline confirmed that the affected software is not installed on any of its aircraft. Preventive measures were introduced, including grounding any aircraft requiring further verification until updates were completed.
Berniq emphasised its ongoing coordination with Airbus and technical partners to ensure compliance with international safety updates, noting that any schedule changes would only be linked to precautionary safety measures.
Libyan Civil Aviation Authority: Stable Situation
According to Mohamed Qniwa, Media Office Director at the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority, the authority contacted all domestic airlines both public and private, and confirmed that Airbus’s directive does not apply to their fleets. He added that a follow-up meeting will be held soon with the airlines to ensure continued technical readiness.
While thousands of aircraft worldwide have been withdrawn from service to address the ELAC software issue, Libya’s three carriers, Libyan Airlines, Afriqiyah Airways, and Berniq Airways, have all confirmed their fleets are unaffected. Following thorough inspections and coordination with Airbus experts, Libyan aviation operations remain stable, with all companies reiterating that passenger and crew safety is their highest priority.
