In a major blow to its passengers, low-cost airline Go First has announced that all its flights will remain cancelled on May 3-4. The decision was communicated to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by the airlines and as per sources, a detailed report will be submitted soon to the civil aviation regulator.Adding to the uncertainty, the Mumbai-based airline has also stopped taking bookings for the next two days.
The move came after Go First, which has around 5,000 employees, filed an application for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), as confirmed by its CEO Kaushik Khona.
The airline is currently facing financial difficulties due to the non-supply of engines by Pratt & Whitney (P&W), which has led to the grounding of 28 planes.
In a statement, the airline said, “Go First is facing a financial crunch due to non-supply of engines by P&W that has forced the grounding of planes. The CEO has filed an application for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the NCLT.”
The sudden announcement has left many fliers disappointed and it remains to be seen what steps Go First takes to address its financial issues and how it compensates its passengers for the sudden cancellation of flights. The passengers who had already booked their tickets with Go First have been expressing their outrage on different social media platforms.
Meanwhile, A group of tourists from Bangalore claimed that they were stuck at Srinagar airport owing to the ineptness of a private airline.
The visitors said that they intended to board the flight from Srinagar airport in the morning, but they were stranded owing to the airline’s ‘cruel attitude’.
A video that went viral on social media shows a group of ten visitors, including women and children, stunned at the Srinagar airport owing to the problem.
“We reached the airport on time and waited at boarding gate 6B, as mentioned in the boarding pass. We did all the formalities and even paid Rs 20,000 extra for extra baggage to the Go First Airline. As we waited at the 6B gate for half an hour, the gate was closed. Later we got to know that the boarding gate was changed at the last moment, and we were not informed about the same. No staff member was there to inform and help us. We were supposed to reach Delhi and then to Bangalore, but now we are stranded,” said one of the passengers while displaying the boarding passes.
Meanwhile, many netizens and social activists took to social media to express their dismay over the issue. They said that the tourists should be immediately given alternate flights without having to pay again.
“Tourists from Bangalore stranded at Srinagar Airport. They were provided 10 Boarding passes. Gate 6B was changed at the last moment and they were Not Informed. Flight left. @GoFirstairways must airlift them soon without any charges @AAI_Official @OfficeOfLGJandK” Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a social activist tweeted.
Netizens also urged the local administration to intervene and help the stranded tourists.
“We request LG Administration UT J&K take cognizance of the matter and help these people to reach their destination,” wrote another netizen.
Despite repeated attempts, the officials of the airline could not be reached through the contact numbers mentioned on their social media platforms.
