-Go First had blamed the non-delivery of engines by the US engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney for its failure to operate
-DGCA says can proceed to de-register Go First aircraft after moratorium lifted
New Delhi, NFAPost: Crisis-ridden Go First announced an extension in the cancellation of its services until June 4, 2023, a Business Today (BT) report said. The airline blamed “operational reasons” for its inability to resume services. Previously, the airline had announced a pause in its operations until May 30, however, now, it has extended it for another five days.
Quoting the airline, the report said, “We regret to inform you that due to operational reasons, Go First flights scheduled till June 4, 2023, have been canceled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations.”
To the relief of the customers who bought Go First tickets, a full refund will be issued to the original mode of payment shortly, the airline informed. Go First went on to recognise the possible trouble this decision may have caused and said that it is committed to assisting travellers, the BT report said.
Senior officials of the airline held discussions with the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to resolve the revival issues of the airline. It should be noted that Go First had filed for bankruptcy proceedings after its financial health dwindled and things came to a point where it could not pay for its routine operations.
Additionally, Go First had blamed the non-delivery of engines by the US engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney for its failure to operate.
Earlier, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had advised Go First Airlines to submit a comprehensive restructuring plan for a sustainable revival of operations.
Go First lessors’ request to repossess planes on hold, not rejected: DGCA
India’s aviation watchdog has put on hold requests from lessors to repossess planes from airline Go First as the carrier’s bankruptcy process imposes a freeze on assets which supersedes such requests, it said in a court filing.
Go Airlines (India) Ltd filed for bankruptcy protection blaming its financial troubles on the grounding of about half its 54 Airbus A320neos due to “faulty” Pratt & Whitney engines. Pratt, part of Raytheon Technologies, says the claims are without evidence.
In granting bankruptcy protection, the Indian tribunal ordered a freeze on Go First’s assets even though some lessors had already terminated leases and placed requests with the aviation regulator to repossess more than 40 planes.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that while the bankruptcy process is ongoing it cannot legally approve repossession requests from lessors, leaving it “no other option” but to keep all application “pending in abeyance”.
While the DGCA has not rejected lessors’ de-registration requests, they have been placed on hold, it said in the filing seen by Reuters.
Go First’s lessors, which include Standard Chartered’s Pembroke Aircraft Leasing, SMBC Aviation, CDB Aviation’s GY Aviation Leasing, Jackson Square Aviation and BOC Aviation, have initiated separate legal action to reclaim their planes.
