Pratt & Whitney Dismisses Go First’s Allegations, Prepares for Legal Action

The dispute between Go First Airlines and Pratt and Whitney (P&W) may escalate into a legal battle, as the US jet manufacturer has responded to the budget airline’s claim that P&W is responsible for its financial woes and subsequent bankruptcy. A spokesperson from Pratt & Whitney stated, “Go First’s allegations that Pratt & Whitney is to blame for its financial situation lack credibility.

Pratt & Whitney will vigorously defend itself against Go’s claims and is pursuing its own legal remedies,” as reported by ANI.

Previously, the troubled Wadia Group-owned airline had leveled accusations against P&W, claiming that the company had supplied faulty engines that contributed to its ongoing financial crisis. Subsequently, External circumstances forced Go First to file for involuntary bankruptcy.

Due to operational reasons, Go First has announced the cancellation of all flights until May 19. The airline issued a statement expressing regrets for any inconvenience caused and requested understanding from its customers.

Go First Plea

On Wednesday, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) accepted Go First’s plea for voluntary insolvency and approved the initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) proceedings. NCLT has granted Go First protection under a moratorium, shielding it from recovery actions by lessors and lenders.

In its order, the NCLT declared, “We accept Go Airlines’ request for insolvency proceedings and appoint Abhilash Lal as the insolvency resolution professional (IRP).”

“The suspended board of directors will cooperate with the IRP. Furthermore, the suspended directors are directed to deposit Rs 5 crore to cover immediate expenses,” the order further stated.

Following the NCLT order, Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer of Go First Airline, expressed his thoughts in an exclusive interview with ANI, stating, “This decision is truly historic and will significantly aid the process… Countless prayers have been answered, and I believe we couldn’t have received a better order than this… We express our delight in obtaining this order, which grants us admission and a moratorium.

Khona acknowledged the airline’s gratitude for the NCLT process and emphasized its alignment with the principles of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). He stated, “I am confident that this decision is in line with the spirit of the IBC, enabling us to make decisions regarding revival. As he spoke with ANI, the Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) confirmed that he will carry out this task.

Financial Commitments

Regarding the financial commitments between GoFirst and Pratt & Whitney, the manufacturer of jet engines, a P&W official revealed that GoFirst had a history of not fulfilling its financial obligations. The official stated, “Pratt & Whitney has consistently offered support over the years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the leadership of Go First opted to pursue litigation,” in an interview with ANI.

Pratt & Whitney has reported that over 1,600 aircraft, serving more than 60 airline customers globally, have installed the GTF engine. It continues to deliver the promised fuel efficiency and emissions reductions while efforts are underway to enhance its durability.”

Lufthansa, a prominent global airline, has followed in the footsteps of Go First by grounding a portion of its Airbus A220 fleet in Zurich, Switzerland. The decision was made due to concerns related to the Pratt & Whitney engines powering these aircraft.

In an official statement released on Thursday, Lufthansa announced the temporary grounding of approximately one-third of its Airbus A220 fleet in Zurich, attributing the action to issues with the Pratt & Whitney engines.

Pratt & Whitney, a reputable American company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of aircraft engines, holds its headquarters in the United States.

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