On August 28, 2023, Go First Airlines, currently in crisis, paid its employees their full June salaries ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi and Raksha Bandhan.
This move was likely made possible by swift funding from lenders, as reported by media. The airline had recently received Rs 100 crore in an investment from lenders to cover immediate expenses, including employee salaries, airport costs, insurance, maintenance, and statutory dues.
Due to operational challenges, the company had previously announced the cancellation of all flights until August 31, after being inactive since May due to voluntary insolvency. The airline confirmed this via a statement on the social media platform X.
Recent updates from reports reveal that a substantial segment of Go First’s pilot team, roughly 500 out of 600 pilots, has shifted to other airlines. Additionally, nearly 500–600 employees have submitted their resignations at Go First and are presently in the process of serving their notice periods. This continuing pattern has the potential to decrease the airline’s workforce to approximately 2,500 employees by mid-September.
In July, Go First received DGCA approval to restart operations with 15 aircraft and 114 daily flights, subject to conditions and interim funding availability.
The airline’s issues began on May 3, 2023, due to technical problems with Pratt & Whitney engines, leading to a voluntary insolvency filing accepted by the NCLT on May 10.
