New Delhi: Cash-strapped Go First airline, which is undergoing insolvency resolution proceedings, has extended its flight cancellation period for operational reasons till May 30. This comes hours after the airline announced suspension of flight operations till May 28. However, the airline was hopeful that it would be able to resume bookings soon.
Meanwhile, the low-cost airline said it will refund passengers who have booked tickets on canceled flights in their original mode of payment. Significantly, Go Air has also stopped selling tickets.
GoFirst flights canceled till May 28
“We regret to inform you that due to operational reasons, GoFirst flights scheduled till May 28, 2023 have been cancelled. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellation. A full refund will be issued. . We acknowledge that flight cancellations may disrupt your travel plans and are committed to provide all possible assistance. As you are aware, the Company has taken steps for immediate resolution and handling Have filed an application for revival. We will be able to resume bookings shortly,” the airline said in a tweet.
The airline is going through the insolvency resolution process. On 3 May, Go First officially announced that it was suspending its flight operations. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the NCLT decision to admit GoFirst’s plea for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings. The decision came on petitions filed by four lessors opposing the airline’s insolvency resolution process.
Go first to submit ‘revival’ plan to DGCA
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) advised GoFirst Airlines to submit a comprehensive plan for revival of its operations. The DGCA on May 24 advised the airline to submit a comprehensive restructuring plan within a period of 30 days for sustainable revival of operations.
The source said the airline will submit other details including operational aircraft, availability of pilots and other personnel, maintenance arrangements and funding status. The source said that the revival plan once submitted by GoFirst will be reviewed by the DGCA so that further appropriate action can be taken.
DGCA will conduct Go First audit
Meanwhile, aviation regulator DGCA will audit GoFirst’s preparedness before approving the resumption of flights, the beleaguered airline’s head of operations has told its staff. On 24 May, a senior DGCA official said that the airline has replied to the regulator’s show cause notice, indicating that it is working out the details of the plan to resume flights at the earliest.
On May 8, the DGCA issued a show cause notice to the budget carrier under relevant provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 for failure to continue operating the service in a safe, efficient and reliable manner. The airline has filed its reply to the show cause notice.