Go First airline on Tuesday clarified that they have no definite timeline for the resumption of operations as of now, aviation regulator DGCA stated.
“In a reply to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Go First airline said they have no definite timeline for the resumption of operations yet,” reported ANI citing DGCA.
Last week there were reports of the airline resuming operations in May.
On Monday, NCLAT had upheld insolvency proceedings against Go First, throwing a spanner in the works for the airline’s lessors, who are attempting to take back their planes.
At least three leasing companies, including SMBC Aviation Capital, had challenged a tribunal ruling granting Go Airlines (India), widely known as Go First, bankruptcy protection earlier this month.
The airline has blamed its financial woes on problems with engines from Raytheon-owned Pratt & Whitney, which it said had led to the grounding of nearly half its fleet of Airbus A320 neos. The U.S. engine maker has said the claims are “without merit”.
The appeals tribunal said on Monday the National Company Law Tribunal will decide whether lessors who terminated their leases before the bankruptcy proceedings began can repossess aircraft.
Despite the development, lessors cannot afford not to do business with Indian airlines, said Mark Martin, CEO at aviation consulting firm Martin Consulting.
India is “lucrative” because it represents the world’s largest, fastest-growing aviation market, he added.
Lessors, however, have warned that the Go First bankruptcy makes India a ‘risky’ jurisdiction which will lead to higher leasing costs for domestic carriers when striking new deals.
Go First Chairman Varun Berry and lessor SMBC Aviation Capital did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
So far this month, several lessors have approached aviation regulator DGCA for deregistration and repossession of Go First’s 45 planes. Go First stopped flying on May 3.
