Summary
- Go First has performed successful test flights, indicating that it’s near restarting business.
- The airline is reportedly working on securing airport slots and funding to make sure a smooth resumption of operations.
- The National Company Law Tribunal has allowed Go First to make use of its leased aircraft, stating that it’s crucial for the airline’s business resumption plan.
Go First’s flight resumption plan has received some momentum these days, with the airline performing test flights, suggesting it is kind of near flying again. There are also reports of the carrier asking for its airport slots back amid news that the Indian aviation regulator has also allowed it to make use of its leased planes for flight operations.
Go First performs test flights
Go First is seemingly near restarting business because it performed test or a handling flights on Tuesday. The airline has received a conditional nod from India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, for flight resumption.
The test flight is one among the mandatory requirements wherein airlines must prove that their aircraft are ready for operations. This was the primary time Go First flew its Airbus A320 aircraft since halting operations in May.
Many had written off Go First when it declared bankruptcy, as other Indian carriers that went through something similar up to now never got here back. But Go First has proved quite resilient all this while, and if all goes based on plan, it’d pull off something that has never happened in Indian aviation before.
Restoring airport slots
Go First is reportedly also in conversation with airports at hand over its slots. The carrier’s slots got to other airlines on an ad-hoc basis. But a report by the Financial Express says that the airline has asked for its slots to be restored.
The budget carrier’s resolution skilled (RP), Shailendra Ajmera, has also had discussions with its committee of creditors (CoC) regarding the airline’s funding because it plans its next move.
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With test flights being conducted, Go First is now busy securing airport slots and funding. Once these are done, it could possibly confidently approach the DGCA for final approval, following which it could possibly start selling flight tickets again. A source told the Financial Express,
Allowed to make use of leased planes
Meanwhile, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has sided with Go First and rejected its lessors’ request to refrain the airline from using the leased aircraft. Go First has been at loggerheads with its lessors, who’re dissatisfied with the treatment given to their rights during this complete process.
Photo: Harsh – S | Shutterstock
However the NCLT said that allowing Go First to operate the aircraft is crucial for its business resumption plan and highlighted that the DGCA had not deregistered the aircraft. A two-member bench observed,
There have been reports that Go First could start flying chartered flights soon. It’ll be interesting to see where the carrier decides to fly to initially, each time that happens.
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