Go First Airlines Challenges Aviation Working Group's Watchlist Notice for India Amid Legal Proceedings and Engine Shortage
Go First Airlines has criticized the recent watchlist notice issued by the Aviation Working Group (AWG) regarding India, alleging that its intention is to influence the ongoing legal proceedings initiated by lessors who are seeking to overturn a moratorium on aircraft repossessions.
The airline, currently facing challenges, asserts that the notice released on May 11th is marked by a display of double standards. It argues that the AWG, which represents lessors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), should prioritize ensuring that its own members comply with international arbitration awards.
Furthermore, Go First Airlines has intensified its criticism of Pratt & Whitney for its failure to deliver additional spare PW1127G engines, despite an arbitration award in March. Consequently, the airline has taken legal action in the US Federal Court to enforce that award.
The unavailability of serviceable engines has been cited by Go First Airlines as the main reason for its insolvency resolution filing on May 2nd. Consequently, the airline suspended its operations the following day as approximately 28 aircraft were grounded.
The airline has also accused Raytheon, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, of treating India as a secondary market, where the actions of Pratt & Whitney continue to cause irreparable harm to Indian airline companies.
The AWG's notice cautioned that India's position on the CTC Compliance Index may be downgraded due to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's failure to promptly deregister several Airbus A320s operated by Go First Airlines in accordance with lessors' requests.
Following the airline's insolvency resolution approval, the National Company Law Tribunal issued an order restraining lessors from repossessing aircraft and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation from deregistering them.
This order is currently being challenged by lessors, including SMBC Aviation Capital, CDB Aviation Leasing, and SKY Leasing, in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.