Go First

Go First, founded as GoAir,[3] is an Indian ultra-low-cost airline based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is owned by the Indian business conglomerate Wadia Group. In October 2017, it was the fifth largest airline in India with an 8.4% passenger market share.[4] It commenced operations in November 2005 and operates a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft in all economy configuration.

Not to be confused with IndiGo.

Go First
IATA ICAO Callsign
G8 GOW GO AIR
Founded
  • November 2005 (2005-11)
    (as GoAir)
Commenced operations
  • 4 November 2005 (2005-11-04)
    (as GoAir)
  • May 2021 (2021-05)
    (as Go First)
Operating bases
Fleet size59
Destinations39
Parent companyWadia Group
HeadquartersMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Key people
  • Nusli Wadia
    (Chairman)
  • Ben Baldanza
    (Vice-Chairman)
  • Kaushik Khona
    (CEO)[1]
Revenue ₹4,553 crore (US$570 million) (FY 2017)[2]
Profit ₹294.88 crore (US$37 million) (FY 2017)[2]
Websitewww.flygofirst.com

In March 2020, the airline operated over 330 daily flights to 36 destinations, including 27 domestic and nine international destinations, from its bases at Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chandigarh,[5] and Kannur.[6][7] The airline is planning to launch an IPO[8] to raise Rs 36 billion from the primary market and has filed a DRHP[9] for the same with Indian stock market regulator SEBI.

History

Go First was founded as GoAir in November 2005 by Jeh Wadia, son of Indian industrialist Nusli Wadia. The airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wadia Group.[10] GoAir commenced its operations using an Airbus A320 aircraft and operated its inaugural flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on 4 November 2005.[10] The airline initially operated with a single aircraft to four destinations including Goa and Coimbatore with plans to induct 36 aircraft by 2008.[11] In March 2008, the airline announced revised plans to operate 11 aircraft and service new destinations in North East and South India by the end of the year.[12] Increasing fuel prices forced Go First to cut down the existing number of flights in June 2008.[13]

In January 2009, British Airways was interested in buying a stake in the airline.[14] In November 2009, GoAir entered into talks with Indian airline SpiceJet over a possible merger which ended in a no deal.[15] In April 2012, GoAir became the fifth largest airline in India in terms of market share following the demise of Kingfisher Airlines.[16] In 2013, the airline appointed investment bank JP Morgan to scout for potential investors.[17] The airline's growth has been slow compared to other airlines established at the same time such as IndiGo and SpiceJet, which have larger market share, fleet size and destinations served as of 2016.[18]

According to the airline, it is a planned strategy due to the tough aviation environment in India and to focus on maintaining profitability rather than on capturing market share and increasing the destinations and fleet size.[19][20] As of February 2016, it was the fifth largest carrier in the country with an 8% market share.[21] The airline is planning for an initial public offering (IPO) in 2020.[22] The airline took delivery of its 20th aircraft in June 2016, making it eligible to operate international flights.[23]

GoAir became the sixth Indian domestic carrier to fly international when it launched its inaugural flight to Phuket from New Delhi on 11 October 2018.[24]

On 17 March 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, GoAir suspended its international flights.[25] In May 2021, GoAir was rebranded as Go First.[26]

Corporate affairs
Go First Airbus A320 with Wadia Group insignia.

The airline is headquartered in Mumbai, India.[27] Jehangir Wadia served as the managing director of the airline since its inception until his resignation in 2021.[20] Kaushik Khona is the CEO of Go First.[28]

Destinations

In March 2020, Go First operated to a network of 39 destinations – 29 domestic and 10 international to Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket), Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Kuwait City, Singapore , Colombo and Malé. As of now, Go First operates international flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kannur and Kolkata. The airline has a total of 325 daily flights and more than 2200 weekly flights.[6][29] The airline maintains bases at Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kannur and Mumbai airports.[30]

The airline commenced its first international operations on 11 October 2018 from Delhi to Phuket, then from Mumbai to Phuket on 12 October, from Mumbai and Delhi to Malé on 14 and 17 October respectively.[31]

Fleet
Go First Airbus A320-200

As of September 2022, Go First operates an all-Airbus A320 fleet:[32]

Go First fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Airbus A320-200 5 — 180 —
Airbus A320neo 53 71 186 —
Total 58 71

New orders

In June 2011, Go First placed an order for 72 Airbus A320neo aircraft worth ₹32,400 crore (US$4.1 billion). Deliveries began from 2016, with an induction rate of 12–15 aircraft per year.[33] In December 2015, Airbus intimated that the deliveries will be delayed by three months due to technical issues and the aircraft will be delivered by the second quarter of financial year 2015–16.[34] Go First received its first A320neo aircraft on 1 June 2016.[23]

In July 2016, Go First signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 72 Airbus A320neo aircraft valued at US$7.7 billion, potentially taking the total number of orders to 144. This deal was announced at Farnborough Airshow.[35]

Services

Being a budget airline, Go First does not provide complimentary meals on its flights but offers options for buy on board in-flight meals.[36] The airline publishes an in-flight magazine named Go-getter.[37] Go First offers a premium service known as Go Business at a higher fare which provides extra services including seats with greater legroom, free meals, increased baggage allowance and priority boarding.[38] In 2011, the airline launched its frequent flyer programme called Go Club, which provided benefits such as lounge access and free upgrade to Go Business.[39] New membership was discontinued in February 2014.[40]

Awards

Go First was rated as the "Best Domestic Airline For Excellence in Quality and Efficient Service" by Pacific Area Travel Writers Association in 2008.[41] The airline was named the "Best Performing Airline" in Asia and Africa of all Airbus A320 operators by Airbus in 2011 based on fleet utilization and other performance metrics.[42]

See also
  • List of airlines of India
  • Transport in India

References
  1. "GoAir appoints Kaushik Khona as new CEO, to replace Vinay Dube". Livemint. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. "ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17" (PDF). Official Website of GoAir. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  3. "GoAir rebrands as GO FIRST after 15 years of flying – Times of India". Times of India. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. http://dgca.nic.in/reports/Traffic_reports/Traffic_Rep072017.pdf%5B%5D
  5. "GoAir,CHANDIGARH (IXC) · New Civil Air Terminal Chandigarh, village, Jhiurheri, Punjab 140306, India". GoAir,CHANDIGARH (IXC) · New Civil Air Terminal Chandigarh, village, Jhiurheri, Punjab 140306, India. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  6. "Route Map". Goair.in. 11 October 2019.
  7. "GoAir's Inflight Magazine" (PDF). www.goair.in. March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  8. Raj, Shubham. "There is a reason why GoAir is in a hurry to go public". The Economic Times. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  9. Gyan, Pradeep (28 May 2021). "Go Airlines (India) Limited – DRHP". SEBI. Retrieved 28 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "GoAir: About us". GoAir. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  11. "GoAir begins commercial flights". The Economic Times. 4 November 2005. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  12. "GoAir to expand operations in South, Northeast". The Economic Times. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  13. Roy, Mithun (11 July 2008). "GoAir to drop 300 flights to reduce losses". The Economic Times. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  14. Roy, Mithun (5 January 2009). "British Air wants to buy 25% in GoAi". The Economic Times. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  15. Bhalla, Mohit; Chatterjee, Paramita (17 November 2009). "GoAir, SpiceJet deal enters air pocket". The Economic Times. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  16. "Air India, Kingfisher Airlines market share shrinks". The Economic Times. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
    - "IndiGo market share shrinks for 2nd month in a row in December". The Economic Times. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  17. Shah, Sneha; Singhal, Manisha; Vyas, Maulik (9 May 2013). "GoAir scouts for partners to sell 49% stake". The Economic Times. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  18. "What keeps GoAir up in the air". Rediff. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  19. Mishra, Lalatendu (3 March 2013). "We will not sell under cost". The Hindu Business Line. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  20. "Stay small till customer has a need, not want: Jeh Wadia". The Times of India. 16 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  21. "India's domestic passenger demand up 25 percent: IATA". Business Standard. 6 April 2014. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  22. "GoAir awaits Airbus delivery schedule to decide IPO timing". Live Mint. 28 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  23. "GoAir takes delivery of its first Neo aircraft". Live Mint. 1 June 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  24. "GoAir launches maiden Delhi-Phuket flight". The Hindu Business Line. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  25. "GoAir suspends international operations". Mint. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. All Systems Go for rebrand Airliner World August 2021 page 16
  27. "GoAir: Contact Us". GoAir. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  28. "Turnaround Expert Kaushik Khona Back in Gear Cockpit for Second Inning".
  29. "International Flights". Goair.in. 11 October 2019.
  30. Majumder, Arindam (13 July 2016). "GoAir readies foreign flight with IPO on mind". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  31. "GoAir To Launch First International Flight On October 11.The airline started flying to dubai from its international hub at kannur from 25th July 2019". NDTV. 10 October 2019.
  32. Gyan, Pradeep (28 May 2021). "About Us : GoAir". GoAir. Retrieved 1 September 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    - "Go First Fleet details". Airfleets. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  33. "GoAir orders 72 Airbus jets for Rs. 32,000 crore". Times of India. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  34. "A320neo delivery to GoAir likely to be delayed". The Economic Times. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  35. "Business Standard – GoAir new order for 72 further NEO's". Archived from the original on 15 July 2016.
  36. "GoAir Menu". GoAir. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  37. "Go Getter In-flight magazine". GoAir. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  38. "Go Business". GoAir. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  39. Phadnis, Aneesh (11 December 2011). "GoAir flies on new routes to lure passengers". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  40. Hill, Ruben (27 April 2016). "GoAir Frequent Flyer Program". ISP online. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  41. "PATWA International Awards" (PDF). PATWA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  42. "GoAir ranked the Best Performing Airline by Airbus". Breaking Travel News. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.

Media related to GoAir at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.