New Delhi: Cash-strapped private airlines, Go First and Jet Airways, have lost their airline codes ‘G8 and 9W’, assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), for being non-operational for a long time, media reported.
The head of communications at IATA said that an airline needs to be operational for the basic eligibility for an IATA two-letter designator. Go First airline stopped operating commercial flights in early May this year, while Jet Airways have shut down its operation since April 2019.
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As per the laid-down norms, the airline companies would not be able to book ticket and provide reservation services along with baggage handling operations once the codes are taken away. The designator codes for timetables, reservations, ticketing, cargo documentation, schedules, telecommunications, etc., also don’t work without specified codes.
Earlier in July, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) sought the consent of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) and the Committee of Creditors (CoC) on Go First’s plan to refund money to passengers booked on their flights post 3 May – the day airline suspended operations.
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The refund plan, submitted by Go First management led by the Resolution Professional (RP), included a mix of payment via credit notes issued to travel agents and passengers, and payment through revenue earned through operations.
Meanwhile, NCLT gave Jalan-Kalrock consortium, the successful bidder for Jet Airways, time till 30 September to clear dues worth ₹350 crore to lenders of the grounded airline. The tribunal also accepted the consortium’s plea to adjust ₹150 crore from a performance bank guarantee towards the payment of ₹350 crore.
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After 30 September, the NCLT will address the remaining pleas of the case, including the one by workmen seeking recovery of their dues of around ₹224 crore. On 22 June 2021, the NCLT had approved the resolution plan for Jet Airways submitted by the Jalan-Kalrock consortium, comprising UAE-based non-resident Indian Murari Lal Jalan, who will hold shares in Jet Airways in his personal capacity, and Florian Fritsch who will hold shares through his investment holding company Kalrock Capital Partners Ltd., Cayman.
Jet Airways had grounded all its flight operation owing to financial difficulties. However, ownership transfer has been hanging fire amid continuing differences between the lenders and the consortium.
