Go First’s employees, who have faced financial challenges during the pandemic, hope the government will help the airline fly out of the crisis. The airline has filed for bankruptcy and will suspend three-day flights from May 3. Some employees were surprised by the insolvency announcement, and some are looking for work elsewhere. Some pilots have left Go First for airlines in West Asia, and others have contacted IndiGo, the largest domestic airline in India. Sources said IndiGo’s human resources and operations department received more calls from Go First pilots after the announcement. The cabin crew is exploring opportunities in Air India, hiring staff for its growth.
Go First blamed its cash crunch on half its fleet being grounded and delayed salaries in recent months. The airline management sent an email to employees to address their concerns. “We want to reassure you we are doing everything possible to navigate this situation with utmost care and concern for all employees. We understand that this news is likely to be distressing, and we remain committed to offering our support to all of you during this difficult time,” Kaushik Khona, Go First’s chief executive officer, wrote in the email.
After getting orders from the National Company Law Tribunal, the company will brief employees about its plan. Some employees have confidence in the company and think it will survive. “We have always had confidence in this company. The airline had gone through tough times and has survived when others went bust,” an engineer said. Some think that the insolvency step is a way to get emergency funding from the government. “We hope the airline doesn’t shut down,” a crew member said. Others think the airline will most resume operations in a week or ten days.
