The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gave nod to Go First's plan to resume its flight operations with subject to certain conditions. The aviation regulator body had given approval for Go First's plan to restart operations with 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights.
In a notification, DGCA said that it has accepted the proposed resumption plan dated June 28 subject to outcome of its writ petitions pending before the Delhi High Court and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
DGCA said that the Go First can commence flight operations, provided it complies with all the applicable regulatory requirements for holding an Air Operator Certificate, reported The Economic Times.
Go First may resume scheduled flight operations on the availability of interim funding and approval of flights scheduled by DGCA, the release said.
It also added that the company cannot deploy any aircraft for operations without undertaking a satisfactory handling flight.
"Any change in the company which has a bearing on the resumption plan submitted by the resolution professional shall be promptly notified to the DGCA," said the release.
After a severe fund crunch and grounding of several aircraft, Go First filed for voluntary insolvency resolution in May. Budget Carrier Go First stopped flying on May 3.
"Go First has had to take this step due to the ever-increasing number of failing engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney’s International Aero Engines, LLC, which has resulted in Go First having to ground 25 aircraft (equivalent to approximately 50 per cent of its Airbus A320 neo aircraft fleet) as of 1 May 2023," the airline said in a statement released earlier.
Go First has been facing engine-related issues for some time now, and these have only increased over the last year. The percentage of grounded aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney’s faulty engines has grown from 7 per cent in December 2019 to 31 per cent in December 2020 to 50 per cent in December 2022, the airline noted.
The company on Thursday tweeted that due to operational reasons, all its flights have been cancelled at least until July 23, 2023.
Go First's Resolution Professional (RP) submitted the resumption plan to DGCA on June 28. The regulator had informed earlier this month that it would conduct a special audit of the Go First facilities at Mumbai and Delhi.
"DGCA has ensured that the findings of the special audit have been adequately addressed by Go First," the release said, adding that the resumption plan was amended on July 15.
(With PTI inputs)
