The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved Go First’s plan to restart operations with 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights, subject to certain conditions. The airline which stopped flying on May 3, is undergoing an insolvency resolution process.
DGCA said the airline’s resumption plan for operating 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights has been reviewed and accepted. “The acceptance is subject to the outcome of the writ petitions/applications pending before the High Court of Delhi and the (National Company Law Tribunal) NCLT, Delhi,” it said.
This comes after the airline’s Resolution Professional Shailendra Ajmera recently invited Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from potential bidders. “The sale of tickets shall be commenced only after the approval of flight schedule by DGCA”, it said.
The airline on Thursday informed on Twitter that due to operational reasons, all its flights have been cancelled at least until July 23, 2023. Go First may resume scheduled flight operations on the availability of interim funding and approval of flights scheduled by DGCA, it said. Further, the DGCA has directed Go First to ensure compliance with all the applicable regulatory requirements and the continued airworthiness of the aircraft engaged in operations.
The DGCA stated that none of Go First’s aircraft will be deployed for operations without undertaking a satisfactory handling flight. Any change in the company that has any bearing on the resumption plan submitted by the RP must be notified to DGCA.
The airline’s RP submitted the resumption plan to DGCA on June 28, and subsequently, the DGCA conducted a special audit of the carrier’s facilities in Mumbai and Delhi.
“RP shall submit the proposed flight schedule, commensurate with the available resources in terms of airworthy aircraft, qualified pilots, cabin crew, AMEs, flight dispatchers, etc., for the consideration of DGCA after making requisite arrangements for the commencement of scheduled flight operations, including the interim funding required for resumption of operations,” it said.
The carrier has around 4,200 employees. Its revenue was Rs 4,183 crore from operations in the financial year ended March 2022. Its liabilities are about Rs 11,463 crore.
Earlier this month, Go First invited potential buyers or investors to express their interest through a court-appointed administrator, adhering to the procedural requirements mandated by Indian law. Go First filed for bankruptcy protection in May, blaming the grounding of almost half of its fleet of 54 Airbus A320neos to alleged issues with Pratt & Whitney engines. The engine manufacturer responded that the claims made by Go Airlines were unfounded and its misfortunes were of its own making.