The two-letter designator codes G8 and 9W, assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global trade association of the world’s airlines, stand withdrawn for both airlines.
“One of the requirements for a company to be eligible for an IATA two-letter designator is that the airline needs to be operating,” FE quoted the head of communications at IATA as saying.
“As Go First ceased to operate commercial flights in early May 2023, it is currently not eligible for the IATA two-letter designator. The same applies to the 9W designator as well,” he further added.
The withdrawal of the airline code would lead to disruptions in ticketing, reservations, and baggage handling operations for these airlines. Besides logos and taglines, these codes also become an identity for airlines. Losing them up means losing their uniqueness, according to the FE report. Last month, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) issued a notice to cash-strapped Go First in the Delhivery case after settlement talks between the two entities reportedly failed.Go First’s resolution professional at the last hearing claimed they were trying to settle the matter with Delhivery. The logistics provider had filed an application claiming that the voluntary insolvency petition filed by the beleaguered airline on May 2 was “malicious and fraudulent.”The counsel for Delhivery stated that there was a ten-week delay in the filing of a reply by Go First’s resolution professional despite the tribunal issuing notice and giving two weeks for counsel to reply.
Meanwhile, the National Company Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has given the Jalan-Kalrock consortium, the successful bidder for Jet Airways, time until September 30 to clear dues worth Rs 350 crore to lenders of the grounded airline.
The tribunal also accepted the consortium’s plea to adjust Rs 150 crore from a performance bank guarantee towards the payment of Rs 350 crore.
After September 30, the NCLAT will address the remaining pleas in the case, including the one by workmen seeking recovery of their dues of around Rs 224 crore.
