The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has confirmed the immediate implementation of comprehensive safety inspections across its national Airbus A320 fleet. This decisive action follows an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that affects approximately 6,000 aircraft worldwide, representing over half of the global A320 fleet.
According to official statements released on Saturday, the GCAA is maintaining close coordination with both EASA and UAE carriers to ensure full compliance with all safety mandates. The regulatory body emphasized that these precautionary measures are designed to uphold the highest operational safety standards while minimizing disruption to flight operations throughout the Emirates.
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium indicates that UAE operators Air Arabia and Etihad Airways collectively maintain 106 A320 aircraft subject to the directive. Both airlines have demonstrated proactive responses to the manufacturer’s recall notice.
Air Arabia confirmed it is implementing required software and technical updates across affected aircraft, with a spokesperson stating: ‘We are working to ensure minimal impact on our customers. Should any schedule adjustments become necessary, affected passengers will receive direct notification.’
Etihad Airways reported even more rapid progress, announcing the successful completion of mandatory software updates across its entire A320 fleet. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier credited its operational and technical teams for accomplishing the updates during one of the busiest travel periods at Zayed International Airport, with flights having returned to normal scheduled operations.
The GCAA reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to rigorous regulatory oversight, noting that all operators remain prepared to implement technical updates issued by manufacturers or relevant international authorities promptly and effectively.