DGCA issues notice for non-compliance leading to violation of approvals to its flying schedule

“It has come to the notice of DGCA that Go First has cancelled all scheduled flights of May 3 and 4, 2023, respectively. No prior intimation has been given to DGCA for such cancellations, which is non-compliance with conditions for schedule approval,” said the DGCA statement.

The aviation regulator added that Go First was required to notify it of the cancellations and the reasons thereof in writing.

On Tuesday, the airline’s CEO Kaushik Khona said that the budget carrier had temporarily suspended all domestic and international flights and filed an application for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Delhi. Khona said the airline had grounded 25 planes, more than half of its fleet, due to the non-supply of engines by Pratt & Whitney (P&W).

“It is an unfortunate decision [filing for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings], but it had to be done to protect the company’s interests,” PTI reported Khona as saying. Once the NCLT admits the application, the flights will be restarted, Khona was quoted to have said. 

This seems an optimistic view, particularly when industry observers recall the current status after a similar trajectory for Jet Airways.