Go First reportedly unable to operate flights without at least 20 aircraft

For passengers flying within India on a budget, Go First has been one of the most well known options, which is why a sudden two-day halt in operations will have a massive impact. Since the airline will be operating 220 flights a day this summer, cancellations on May 3 and 4 are expected to spoil planned trips for as many as 60,000 passengers.

But blaming the non-delivery of engines for the disruption, Go First's CEO has said that it needs at least 20 aircraft to be able to sustain daily operations.

Engine maker violated international arbitration

• According to a report by Moneycontrol, the Chief Executive Kaushik Khona says that the airline will be up and running as soon as they get engines from Pratt & Whitney.

• The airline which has approached a NCLT for voluntary insolvency and a Delaware court against Pratt & Whitney, claims that the engine manufacturer violated an order by Singapore's International Arbitration Centre (SIAC).

• The March 30 order had directed Pratt & Whitney to provide engines for the airline, without which 25 out of 50 aircraft in Go First's fleet can't take off.

A disaster long time in the making

• Go First was first hit by the absence of engines in 2019 when 7 per cent of its fleet became defunct, after which it went up to 31 per cent in 2020, and by December 2022, 50 per cent of its aircraft were grounded.

• With the shortfall causing a Rs 10,800 crore revenue loss, Go First has finally given up since it can't continue to pay lessor fees and operational costs in full anymore.