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{{Short description|Low-cost airline of India}}{{distinguish|IndiGo}}{{for|other airlines|Go Airlines (disambiguation)}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}{{good article}}

factoids

Chairman)| headquarters = Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 4553PUBLISHER=GOAIRPAGE=8ARCHIVE-DATE=16 MAY 2018, dead, 294.88|c}} (FY 2017)www.flygofirst.com}} (now defunct)| aoc = | focus_cities = | frequent_flyer = | num_employees = }}Go First, founded as GoAir, was an Indian low-cost airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is owned by the Indian business conglomerate, Wadia Group. It commenced operations on 4 November 2005 and operated a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft in an all economy configuration.In 2021, the airline planned to launch an IPO to raise {{INRconvert|36|b}}. In 2023, the airline faced problems with the availability of Pratt & Whitney engines used on its entire fleet of A320 aircraft and alleged that the issue was impacting its operations. Subsequently, the airline ceased operations on 3 May 2023 and filed an application for voluntary insolvency before the National Company Law Tribunal.

History

GoAir was founded in 2005 by Jehangir Wadia, son of Indian industrialist Nusli Wadia. The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wadia Group.WEB,weblink GoAir: About us, GoAir, 15 April 2016, GoAir commenced its operations using an Airbus A320 aircraft and operated its inaugural flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on 4 November 2005. The airline initially operated with a single aircraft to four destinations including Goa and Coimbatore with plans to induct 36 aircraft by 2008.NEWS,weblink GoAir begins commercial flights, The Economic Times, 4 November 2005, 15 April 2016, In March 2008, the airline announced revised plans to operate 11 aircraft and service new destinations in North East and South India by the end of the year.NEWS,weblink GoAir to expand operations in South, Northeast, The Economic Times, 16 March 2008, 15 April 2016, But increasing fuel prices forced GoAir to cut down the existing number of flights in June 2008.NEWS,weblink GoAir to drop 300 flights to reduce losses, The Economic Times, Mithun, Roy, 11 July 2008, 15 April 2016, In January 2009, British Airways was interested in buying a stake in the airline.NEWS,weblink British Air wants to buy 25% in GoAi, The Economic Times, Mithun, Roy, 5 January 2009, 15 April 2016, In November 2009, GoAir entered into talks with Indian airline SpiceJet over a possible merger which ended in a no deal.NEWS,weblink GoAir, SpiceJet deal enters air pocket, Mohit, Bhalla, Paramita, Chatterjee, The Economic Times, 17 November 2009, 15 April 2016, In April 2012, GoAir became the fifth largest airline in India in terms of market share following the demise of Kingfisher Airlines.NEWS, Air India, Kingfisher Airlines market share shrinks,weblink The Economic Times, 15 April 2016, 17 May 2012, NEWS,weblink IndiGo market share shrinks for 2nd month in a row in December, The Economic Times, 22 January 2014, 15 April 2016, In 2013, the airline appointed investment bank JP Morgan to scout for potential investors.NEWS,weblink GoAir scouts for partners to sell 49% stake, Sneha, Shah, Manisha, Singhal, Maulik, Vyas, The Economic Times, 9 May 2013, 15 April 2016, File:GoAir Airbus A320-200 (Brown).jpg|thumb|A Go First Airbus A320-200 in its former GoAir livery (2011)]]The airline's growth has been slow compared to other airlines established at the same time such as IndiGo and SpiceJet, which have larger market share, fleet size and destinations served as of 2016.NEWS,weblink What keeps GoAir up in the air, Rediff, 4 June 2015, 15 April 2016, According to the airline, it is a planned strategy due to the tough aviation environment in India and to focus on maintaining profitability rather than on capturing market share and increasing the destinations and fleet size.NEWS, We will not sell under cost,weblink The Hindu Business Line, 15 April 2016, Chennai, India, Lalatendu, Mishra, 3 March 2013, NEWS, Stay small till customer has a need, not want: Jeh Wadia,weblink Times of India, 15 April 2016, 16 February 2012, As of February 2016, it remains the fifth largest carrier in the country with an 8% market share.NEWS,weblink India's domestic passenger demand up 25 percent: IATA, Business Standard, 6 April 2014, 14 April 2016, The airline is planning for an initial public offering (IPO) in 2016.NEWS,weblink GoAir awaits Airbus delivery schedule to decide IPO timing, 28 March 2016, Live Mint, 14 April 2016, The airline took delivery of its 20th aircraft in June 2016, making it eligible to operate international flights.NEWS,weblink GoAir takes delivery of its first Neo aircraft, Live Mint, 1 June 2016, 5 June 2016, GoAir became the sixth Indian domestic carrier to fly internationally when it launched its inaugural flight to Phuket from Delhi on 11 October 2018.NEWS,weblink GoAir launches maiden Delhi-Phuket flight, The Hindu Business Line, 12 October 2018, 8 August 2019, On 17 March 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, GoAir suspended all its international flights.NEWS, GoAir suspends international operations,weblink Mint, 17 March 2020, 18 March 2020, On 13 May 2021, GoAir was rebranded as Go First.NEWS, 13 May 2021, GoAir rebrands as Go First after 15 years of flying,weblink 13 May 2021, Times of India, en, In 2021, the airline planned to launch an IPO to raise {{INRconvert|36|b}}.NEWS, Raj, Shubham, There is a reason why GoAir is in a hurry to go public, The Economic Times,weblink 1 December 2023, 28 May 2021, WEB, Go Airlines (India) Limited – DRHP,weblink 28 May 2021, SEBI, In 2023, the airline faced operational issues resulting in cancellation of multiple flights.NEWS, Cash-strapped Go First cancels May 3, 4 flights, to file for insolvency,weblink 2 May 2023, 2 May 2023, Hindustan Times, The airline claimed to have been largely impacted by supply chain issues of Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines which power its entire fleet of A320neo aircraft. Subsequently, the airline filed for voluntary insolvency resolution before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLAT) on 2 May 2023.NEWS, Go First insolvency: NCLAT to pass order on aircraft lessors' petitions on May 22,weblink The Telegraph (India), The Telegraph, New Delhi, 15 May 2023, 15 May 2023, en-IN, The airline also sued Pratt & Whitney in a United States federal court seeking to enforce an arbitral award directing supply of engines as contracted.NEWS, Mascarenhas, Francis, Go First's financial crisis and its Pratt & Whitney dispute: what you need to know,weblink Reuters, New Delhi, 12 May 2023, 15 May 2023, Pratt & Whitney disputed these claims.NEWS,weblink Go First's financial crisis and its Pratt & Whitney dispute: What you need to know, Reuters, 12 May 2023, 1 December 2023, The airline sought interim directions from NCLAT to continue functioning and requested restrictions on any adverse regulatory action which was denied. Due to non-payment of rental dues, leasing companies repossessed the airline's leased planes.NEWS, 4 May 2023, Go First: What went wrong with Indian airline?, en-GB, BBC News,weblink 5 May 2023, On 26 June 2023, the airline's creditors approved an interim financing of {{INRconvert|425|c}} aimed at returning it to operation, pending board approval.NEWS, 25 June 2023, Go First creditors approve Rs 425 cr interim fund to revive airline, await board nod, The Economic Times,weblink 26 June 2023, 0013-0389, In mid-August 2023, the airline sought emergency funding of {{INRconvert|100|c}} to keep itself afloat.NEWS, 14 August 2023, Go First asks lenders for Rs 100 crore emergency funding: Report,weblink 18 August 2023, Business Today, On 13 February 2024, it was announced that Go First had received a 60-day extension for its insolvency resolution process, allowing potential investors to submit their proposals for the carrier's revival. This was the second extension given to Go First and also the last one it could expect. The airline had attracted interest from multiple investors, including SpiceJet. WEB,weblink MSN, MSN, As of February 2024, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SpiceJet, Ajay Singh along with majority stakeholder of Busy Bee Airways and co-founder of EaseMyTrip, Nishant Pitti has submitted a bid for GoFirst, amounted at {{INRconvert|600|c}}. Total dues of Go First including claims of vendors and lessors go up to {{INRconvert|11463|c}} which they plan to pay off by 'monetising' two land parcel of GoFirst has in Mumbai. As per the bid, Nishant Pitti will hold majority stake of 60% and the rest would be held by Ajay Singh. They have plans to start operations using 15 aircraft. The has been another bidder for the airline, Sharjah based Sky One FZE.WEB, 2024-02-20, Go First bid: Ajay Singh, Pitti bank on land parcel, arbitral award to revive the airline,weblink 2024-02-21, Financialexpress, en, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) deregistered all 54 aircraft leased to Go First on 1st May 2024, following a Delhi High Court order issued on April 26. After filing for bankruptcy in May 2023, the lessors of these aircraft have since been engaged in a fierce battle with the former owner of the airline, lenders, and the resolution professional to regain control of their aircraft.NEWS, Chandra, Jagriti, 2024-05-01, DGCA deregisters all 54 Go First aircraft following HC order,weblink 2024-05-02, The Hindu, en-IN, 0971-751X,

Corporate affairs

The airline is headquartered in the Wadia International Centre in Worli, Mumbai.WEB,weblink Our Offices, Go First, 13 December 2022, Jehangir Wadia served as the managing director of the airline since its inception until his resignation in 2021. In April 2016, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the CEO of the airline, also became the joint Managing Director.NEWS,weblink Wolfgang Prock-Schauer promoted to Managing Director of GoAir, Anirban, Chaudhary, The Economic Times, 15 April 2016, 16 February 2012, Kaushik Khona was appointed as the CEO in August 2020.NEWS,weblink Go Air appoints new CEO, 14 August 2020, Mint, 1 December 2023, Khona stepped down as CEO in November 2023.NEWS,weblink Go First CEO Kaushik Khona resigns amid airline's uncertain future, Hindustan Times, 30 November 2023, 1 December 2023,

Livery

GoAir aircraft were painted in different colour schemes such as blue and pink with the logo on the tail. In 2011, the airline announced that all its aircraft will convert to a similar new grey colour scheme.NEWS,weblink GoAir places order worth $7 bn for 72 Airbus A320 neo aircraft, Manisha, Singhal, 25 June 2011, The Economic Times, 16 April 2016, On 13 May 2021, GoAir was rebranded as Go First with a new blue colored scheme and livery.

Destinations

{{see also|List of Go First destinations}}In March 2020, Go First operated a network of 39 destinations – 29 domestic and 10 international with 325 daily flights.WEB,weblink International Flights, Goair.in, 11 October 2019, In June 2016, GoAir became eligible for international operations. The airline commenced its first international operations on 11 October 2018 from Delhi to Phuket.

Fleet

Current fleet

File:GoAir, VT-WGR, Airbus A320-271N.jpg|thumb| A Go First Airbus A320neo in the old GoAir Livery. In 2022, the airline adapted a new livery as a part of its rebranding]]Prior to ceasing operations, Go First operated an all Airbus A320 fleet:REPORT, Orders & deliveries, Airbus, Airbus SAS,weblink Airbus, 31 October 2022, WEB, About Us : GoAir,weblink 1 September 2018, GoAir, WEB, Airfleets,weblink Go First Fleet details, 1 September 2018, However, by May 2024, the Deregistration by the DGCA was initiated.WEB, Go First news: Lessors to repossess all 54 Go First aircraft as DGCA deregisters them - The Economic Times,weblink 2024-05-02, m.economictimes.com, {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center" !Aircraft!In service!Orders!Passengers!Notes|Airbus A320-200| -|—|180|5 Deregisted |Airbus A320neo| -|88|186|49 Deregisted !Total!54!88! colspan="2"|

Fleet development

In June 2011, Go First placed an order for 72 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth {{INRconvert|32400|c}}. Deliveries began in 2016, with an induction rate of 12–15 aircraft per year.NEWS,weblink GoAir orders 72 Airbus jets for Rs. 32,000 crore, Times of India, 17 June 2011, 16 April 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160625085848weblink">weblink 25 June 2016, In December 2015, Airbus intimated that the deliveries will be delayed by three months due to technical issues and the aircraft will be delivered by the second quarter of the financial year 2015–16.NEWS,weblink A320neo delivery to GoAir likely to be delayed, The Economic Times, 20 December 2015, 16 April 2016, Go First received its first A320neo aircraft on 1 June 2016.In July 2016, Go First signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 72 Airbus A320neo aircraft valued at {{USD|7.7 billion}}, potentially taking the total number of orders to 144. This deal was announced at Farnborough Airshow.WEB,weblink Business Standard – GoAir new order for 72 further NEO's, 13 July 2016, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160715011608weblink">weblink 15 July 2016, When the airline ceased operations in 2023, they had 26 aircraft operational while the other 28 aircraft were grounded due to engine issues with Pratt & Whitney.On May 1, 2024 after a high court order DGCA deregistered all 54 pending aircraft belong to Go Air. NEWS, 2024-05-01, Relief for lessors: DGCA de-registers all 54 GoAir planes,weblink 2024-05-04, The Times of India, 0971-8257, NEWS, Chandra, Jagriti, 2024-05-01, DGCA deregisters all 54 Go First aircraft following HC order,weblink 2024-05-04, The Hindu, en-IN, 0971-751X,

Services

Being a budget airline, Go First does not provide complimentary meals on its flights but offers options for buy on board in-flight meals.WEB,weblink GoAir Menu, GoAir, 16 April 2016, dead,weblink 23 April 2016, The airline publishes an in-flight magazine named Go-getter.WEB,weblink Go Getter In-flight magazine, GoAir, 16 April 2016, dead,weblink 24 March 2016, Go First offers a premium service known as Go Business at a higher fare which provides extra services including seats with greater legroom, free meals, increased baggage allowance and priority boarding.WEB,weblink Go Business, GoAir, 16 April 2016, dead,weblink 24 March 2016, In 2011, the airline launched its frequent flyer programme called Go Club, which provided benefits such as lounge access and free upgrade to Go Business.NEWS,weblink GoAir flies on new routes to lure passengers, Aneesh, Phadnis, 11 December 2011, 5 June 2016, Business Standard, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160804132123weblink">weblink 4 August 2016, New membership was discontinued in February 2014.WEB,weblink GoAir Frequent Flyer Program, Ruben, Hill, ISP online, 27 April 2016, 5 June 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160923162932weblink">weblink 23 September 2016,

Accolades

Go First was rated as the "Best Domestic Airline For Excellence in Quality and Efficient Service" by Pacific Area Travel Writers Association in 2008.NEWS,weblink PATWA International Awards, PATWA, 30 March 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424085107weblink">weblink 24 April 2016, The airline was named the "Best Performing Airline" in Asia and Africa of all Airbus A320 operators by Airbus in 2011 based on fleet utilization and other performance metrics.NEWS,weblink GoAir ranked the Best Performing Airline by Airbus, Breaking Travel News, 1 June 2011, 30 March 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20131220195951weblink">weblink 20 December 2013,

See also

• List of airlines of India
• Transport in India

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category-inline|GoAir}}

• {{Official websiteweblink}}

{{Wadia Group}}{{Airlines of India}}