Aircraft lessors have continued to file deregistration requests with the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) against Go First, which was granted bankruptcy protection by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in New Delhi.
Jackson Square Aviation and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) requested that the DGCA deregister eight and a single Airbus A320neo aircraft, respectively, currently operated by the struggling Go First. The latest deregistration requests follow multiple applications previously filed by lessors asking for the removal 20 and 13 Airbus A320ceo and A320ceo aircraft from the Indian low-cost carrier’s fleet in two separate requests.
However, on May 10, 2023, the NCLT granted the carrier bankruptcy protection, which it filed for on May 2, 2023. Go First suspended operations and filed its case in front of the NCLT arguing that Pratt & Whitney supply issues had resulted in the airline’s difficult financial position. The Indian carrier claimed that the engine maker had not provided enough spare PW1100G engines for the Airbus A320neo, resulting in 50% of its fleet being grounded.
Pratt & Whitney hit back at the accusations, stating that the carrier has a history of missing payments and that it has continued to support its airline customers.
Go First’s liabilities stand at INR114.63 billion ($1.3 billion), including debts to lessors and various other institutions that the carrier has borrowed from. In total, Go First has a fleet of 54 aircraft: five Airbus A320ceo and 49 A320neo. Currently, lessors requested to deregister a total of 42 aircraft.
The airline initially suspended operations on May 2 until May 5, 2023, extending the cancelation notice until May 9, May 12. On May 10, 2023, the low-cost carrier extended the waiver until May 19, 2023.
“As you are aware, the company has filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations. We will be able to resume bookings shortly. We thank you for your patience,” the airline said in a statement posted to Twitter.
