Video Game Console: Go First cuts planned ops by 30% after DGCA audit

NEW DELHI: Go First has scaled down its proposed resumption of operations by almost 30%, following observations raised by DGCA post its recent audit of the grounded since May 3, 2023, airline. The audit found the airline does not have adequate pilots and other technical staff for the proposed scale of operations, including the number of flights it wanted to operate to high altitude Leh and Those. Almost 13 observations were raised post the audit, ranging from ongoing court cases to funding, refunds and spares.
“Concurring” with the pilot shortage observation, Go First resolution professional (RP) Shailendra Ajmera on July 15 wrote to the regulator saying the airline now plans to “resume operations initially with 15 aircraft with 114 daily flights to begin with and add flights as and when we are able to stabilise operations and able to add pilots. ” Go had initially submitted a plan to resume operations with 26 aircraft with nearly 160 daily flights.
The RP has also told DGCA that Go has to process refunds of over Rs 500 crore for flights cancelled till early July and has advance bookings of about Rs 110 crore. While the regulator asked how it plans to refund this money, there is no clarity on that yet as the same hinges on resumption of operations and aircraft getting a threshold occupancy.