Go First, an Indian airline, has halted flights and declared insolvency due to ongoing delays in engine deliveries from Pratt & Whitney. Piyush Srivastava, a key figure in the aviation industry, highlighted the lack of domestic Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services as a significant contributor to the airline's downfall. He pointed out that on May 3, half of Go First's fleet was grounded as a result of these challenges.
Srivastava spoke at Aero MRO 2023 on Tuesday, where he emphasized the inefficiencies associated with sending engines overseas for maintenance. He suggested that airlines should demand local MRO setups when making large aircraft orders, as Air India and IndiGo did earlier in 2023. Despite recognizing the gaps in engine and component maintenance within India, Srivastava expressed his opposition to mandating local MRO facilities through restrictive licensing policies.
The insolvency of Go First has led to lessors attempting to reclaim over 40 aircraft from the airline. However, their efforts were put on hold by a tribunal moratorium issued on May 10. The situation underlines a broader issue within the Indian aviation sector, where approximately 92% of engine MRO business is outsourced internationally, leaving airlines vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions.
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