Trouble for Go First as Delhi HC orders DGCA to deregister all 54 planes

While this poses a major setback for Go First, it provides relief to its aircraft lessors, who can now retrieve their aircraft following the airline's bankruptcy declaration nearly a year ago.

Notably, the court has ordered the deregistration of all 54 planes involved in the case and has also barred Go First from operating these aircraft, reported India Today.

At present, the airline faces the risk of losing all 54 of its aircraft, extinguishing any hopes of a revival.

The aircraft lessors, which include Pembroke Aviation, Accipiter Investments Aircraft 2, EOS Aviation, and SMBC Aviation, had moved the Delhi High Court in May 2023 seeking permission to reclaim their planes, said the report.

Initially, the DGCA cited a moratorium as the reason for not releasing the aircraft.

However, in October 2023, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued a notification stating that the rules of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code would not apply to aircraft-related agreements.

The DGCA later informed the court that this notification should extend to cases similar to Go First's. However, the aviation regulator had been awaiting the court's ruling as the matter remained under deliberation.

Amid these proceedings, two bids emerged for the acquisition of Go First: one led by Ajay Singh, the chief of SpiceJet, and the other by Sky One headquartered in Sharjah.

Ajay Singh and Busy Bee Airways proposed Rs 1,600 crore for the airline, but the lenders are yet to reach a decision.