The move from the Aviation Working Group (AWG) could raise leasing costs for Indian airlines and further jolt lessors' confidence in the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.
The slow-moving Indian aviation insurance market, involving around 700 commercial aircraft, is set to double from Rs 850 crore in 2021-22 soon with Air India and Indigo planning to add more planes in the coming months.
Two more lessors move NCLAT against airline’s insolvency proceedings.
The statement from SpiceJet comes at a time when a lessor has filed an insolvency resolution plea against the airline and crisis-hit rival Go First being admitted for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings.
"This is a historic and landmark judgement. It is also a perfect example "in the context of revival of a viable business before it becomes unviable," Go First CEO Kaushik Khona said.
Go First has sought voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings and interim moratorium.
If the Indian tribunal admits Go First's plea, it will lead to appointment of a new resolution professional who will take over management to revive the airline run by India's Wadia Group. A decision is expected at 10:30 a.m. (0500 GMT), with Go First widely expected to succeed.
The DGCA has asked Go First to submit its reply within 15 days of the receipt of the show cause notice, and further, a decision on the continuation of its Air Operator's Certificate will be taken on the basis of the reply submitted by it.
The decision to provide more time to pilots who are yet to sign the new contracts also comes days after Air India organised a town hall meeting with many pilots to discuss their concerns.
The counsels requested the tribunal to take an early decision on its plea, saying that lessors have started deregistering the airline's aircraft.
The aviation regulator also issued a show cause notice to Go First for their failure to continue operations in a safe, efficient, and reliable manner.
Go First asked NCLT to pass an order citing to lessors' efforts to take back planes.
Airline cancels all flights till May 12
Earlier the no-frills carrier had cancelled all flights until May 9 and suspended bookings till May 15.
Reuters spoke with more than a dozen pilots and cabin crew at the Air India programme, which was first announced on Wednesday, and another run by sister company Vistara, all of whom declined to be named as they were still employed by Go First, the country's third-largest airline.
As per IDERA norms, in cases like lease rental defaults, regulators are required to deregister the aircraft and allow the lessors to repossess them within five working days of a request being filed.
Embattled Go First announced on Tuesday that it was filing for voluntary insolvency proceedings with the National Company Law Tribunal.
The two Tata group airlines are in the process of getting merged into a larger full service carrier that will retain the Air India brand. Air India in February placed the largest-ever aircraft order of 470 planes collectively from Airbus and Boeing.
GoFirst's dues towards aircraft lessors is Rs 2,600 crore, according to the plea filed before NCLT.
An interline arrangement refers to a pact to issue and accept tickets for flights that are operated by the partner airline. When selling an interline ticket, the operating airlines own flight numbers are used.
Go Airlines (India) Ltd owner Wadia Group was completely committed to the airline and had no plans to exit it, the airline's chief executive said.
P&W denied Go First's allegation that engine maker was not honouring an arbitration award related to the engine supply issue.
"If the suspension is prolonged, other airlines that are adding capacity would look to avail the slots vacated by Go First and grab on to the market share," Jefferies analyst Prateek Kumar said in a client note.
The total bank loan outstanding of the aviation sector amounts to Rs 28,330 crore as of March 2023, according to RBI data.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued a showcause notice to Go First over cancellation of all its flight scheduled for May 3 and 4.




