Go First receives lifeline, DGCA approves airline's flight resumption plan with certain conditions

Go First flight resumption plan: Beleagured airline Go First received a lifeline on Friday as aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed that it has approved the budget carrier's plan to resume operations with 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights. However, the resumption plan is subject to certain conditions, it added. Go First had stopped flight operations on May 3, and the airline is currently undergoing an insolvency resolution process.

In a release, DGCA said that the airline's resumption plan for operating 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights has been reviewed and accepted. "The acceptance is subject to the outcome of the writ petitions/ applications pending before the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi & Hon'ble NCLT, Delhi," it said.

Go First may resume scheduled flight operations on the availability of interim funding and approval of flights scheduled by DGCA, the release said.

Further, the regulator has directed Go First to ensure compliance with all the applicable regulatory requirements and the continued airworthiness of the aircraft engaged in operations.

The airline's Resolution Professional (RP) submitted the resumption plan to DGCA on June 28, and subsequently, the regulator conducted a special audit of the carrier's facilities in Mumbai and Delhi.

"DGCA has ensured that the findings of the special audit have been adequately addressed by Go First," the release said, adding that the proposed resumption plan dated 28 August, 2023, which has been amended vide communication dated 15 July, has been examined by it and it has been accepted by the Competent Authority subject to the outcome of the writ petitions/applications pending before the Delhi High Court and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). 

Go First flight resumption plan: DGCA's conditions 

Accordingly, DGCA said that Go First may commence flight operations subject to the following conditions —

a) Compliance of all the applicable regulatory requirements for holding an Air Operator Certificate shall be ensured at all times.

b) Continuing airworthiness of the aircraft engaged in operations shall be ensured at all times.

c) No aircraft shall be deployed for operations without undertaking a satisfactory handling fight.

d) Any change in the company which has a bearing on the resumption plan submitted by the Resolution Professional (RP) shall be promptly notified to DGCA.

e) RP shall submit the proposed flight schedule, commensurate with the available resources in terms of airworthy aircraft, qualified pilots, cabin crew, AMEs flight dispatchers, etc. for the consideration of DGCA after making requisite arrangements for commencement of scheduled flight operations, including the interim funding required for resumption of operations.

f) Scheduled flight operations can be commenced only after the availability of the required Interim funding and approval of flight schedule by DGCA.

g) The sale of tickets shall be commenced only after the approval of flight schedule by DGCA.

h) The flight operations shall be subject to the proceedings and/or outcomes in the ongoing CIRP at NCLT, Delhi and other writ petitions/applications by the Lessors of aircraft leased to Go First, which are pending in the Delhi High Court and NCLT, and the Resolution Professional (RP) shall submit information as sought by DGCA from time to time.