The DGCA has been approached to de-register all 54 aircraft of the financially-troubled low-cost carrier, Go First.
The Indian government has greenlit Go First's return-to-flight strategy, contingent upon several conditions including procuring necessary interim financing.
Over the past five years, nearly 400 aircraft have been de-registered in India, as per DGCA records.
NEW DELHI — India's Minister of State for Civil Aviation, V K Singh, revealed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently reviewing applications from lessors to de-register all 54 aircraft belonging to the airline Go First. This number is notably higher than the earlier anticipated 40. For context, Go First's fleet includes 49 Airbus A320neos and five A320ceos.
The carrier's decision to cease operations on 2 May came as a surprise. Financial hurdles drove the airline to explore bankruptcy options. Notably, Go First attributed a portion of its difficulties to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, emphasizing their reliability concerns, which power their Airbus A320neos.
Further, if the de-registration process is successful for the lessors, this would bring the total number of aircraft de-registered in India to nearly 400 in the last five years, according to DGCA records. This move follows the Indian government's recent approval of Go First's plan to restart operations. However, this endorsement carries several conditions. Among them, the airline must secure crucial interim financing. Moreover, before returning to the skies, each plane must undergo a mandatory "satisfactory handing flight."
Though Singh confirmed in the parliament that Go First has indeed presented a reactivation plan, he did not specify a timeline for the same. He mentioned the carrier's aim to operate 150 daily flights using a fleet of 26 aircraft, marking a significant decrease from its pre-grounding operational size.
In light of the challenges faced by Go First, Singh emphasized the DGCA's ongoing vigilance regarding the situation. He also stated that other airlines have been advised to self-regulate their fares, ensuring they remain reasonable. Furthermore, they've been prompted to consider introducing new routes, particularly those that Go First had a significant presence on previously.
