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Go First files for bankruptcy protection, blames A320neo engine problems

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  • Go First files for bankruptcy protection, blames Pratt and Whitney engines for aircraft issues
  • 27 of 49 of the airline’s 49 Airbus A320neo aircraft are grounded
  • The airline has canceled all its flights from 3-5 May

Indian low-cost carrier Go First filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, canceling all flights from 3-5 May. The airline blamed delays and problems with the provision and servicing of Pratt and Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan (GTF) engines for its filing. The GTF engines power the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320neos, of which half have been grounded.

Engine trouble

In their bankruptcy petition, Go First lays blame for their financial situation at Pratt and Whitney’s feet. The airline’s fleet of 49 Airbus A320neo aircraft is powered by the Pratt and Whitney geared turbofan engine, which has suffered reliability and maintenance issues worldwide. Go First says it has been waiting for replacement engines from Pratt and Whitney for quite some time. Go First and P&W entered into arbitration in Singapore in March. Go First says Pratt and Whitney is in breach of that arbitrator’s ruling that the P&W would furnish the airline with 10 spare engines by the end of April.

The airline has taken multiple A320neo aircraft offline nearly every month since June 2022, totally more than two dozen aircraft since 2021. With half its fleet grounded, Go First has struggled to compete domestically, especially as rival airlines have gained strength through consolidation.

The grounded aircraft

The table below shows where Go First’s grounded A320neos are currently located and the date of their most recent flight.

RegistrationAircraft typeMSNDate of last flightCurrent airport (IATA)
VT-WGXAirbus A320-271N848224-Jul-2021CNN
VT-WJBAirbus A320-271N86139-Sep-2021DEL
VT-WGJAirbus A320-271N773710-Apr-2022DEL
VT-WGRAirbus A320-271N820921-May-2022DEL
VT-WJLAirbus A320-271N92002-Jun-2022DEL
VT-WJCAirbus A320-271N862116-Jun-2022DEL
VT-WJRAirbus A320-271N938827-Jun-2022DEL
VT-WGTAirbus A320-271N83829-Aug-2022DEL
VT-WJSAirbus A320-271N959815-Aug-2022DEL
VT-WJAAirbus A320-271N858331-Aug-2022BLR
VT-WJQAirbus A320-271N937521-Sep-2022NAG
VT-WGGAirbus A320-271N756321-Sep-2022HYD
VT-WGMAirbus A320-271N785923-Sep-2022DEL
VT-WGVAirbus A320-271N845810-Oct-2022DEL
VT-WJIAirbus A320-271N875711-Nov-2022BLR
VT-WJFAirbus A320-271N865623-Nov-2022HYD
VT-WGZAirbus A320-271N850328-Nov-2022BOM
VT-WJJAirbus A320-271N87855-Dec-2022BOM
VT-WGWAirbus A320-271N846410-Jan-2023NAG
VT-WGQAirbus A320-271N815230-Jan-2023DEL
VT-WGFAirbus A320-271N750722-Feb-2023CNN
VT-WJTAirbus A320-271N941228-Feb-2023BLR
VT-WJOAirbus A320-271N93326-Mar-2023CNN
VT-WJHAirbus A320-271N88509-Apr-2023BLR
VT-WGNAirbus A320-271N785813-Apr-2023DEL
VT-WJKAirbus A320-271N885021-Apr-2023BOM
VT-WGUAirbus A320-271N844525-Apr-2023BOM
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