The former chairman of Go First’s disbanded board, Varun Berry, has criticized Pratt & Whitney (PW) for supplying sub-standard engines, which have caused significant losses for airlines.
He also accused PW of evading their liabilities. The issue has led to 100 aircraft being grounded in India and many more worldwide.
Berry said PW cannot avoid responsibility for supplying faulty engines that have led to severe losses in the aviation industry.
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Eighteen percent of Indian aviation capacity is currently grounded due to the non-supply of engines by PW.
Go First had maintained profitability compared to the industry leader for almost five years until Covid-19 hit.
Berry has urged the Aircraft Leasing & Management (AWG) to focus on PW’s sub-standard engines instead of issuing watchlist notices for India.
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The aircraft leasing watchdog, AWG, issued a watchlist notice for India after lessors were unable to repossess 45 out of Go First’s 54 aircraft.
Some insiders speculate AWG’s move was to influence the proceedings that are currently being heard in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
However, Berry and others have accused AWG of double standards and asked them to focus on PW’s sub-standard engines.
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According to Berry, PW’s new engine options with Airbus were sold for their fuel efficiency, but they failed, leading to the grounding of numerous aircraft worldwide.
The aviation sector has suffered significant losses due to PW’s sub-standard engines, and several airlines globally have been severely affected by engine failures.
Therefore, Go First’s claims of engine failure due to PW engines have substantial merit.
The Times of India reported him as saying: “The entire Indian Aviation Sector is hit due to sub-standard product supplied by engine makers.
“PW cannot wash their hands off their liabilities after supplying sub-standard engines, which has led to huge losses for all airlines.”
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The erstwhile management of Go First has issued a statement saying that PW has abused international conventions and contractual obligations by refusing to comply with the ruling of the international arbitrator to which all reputable companies are bound, including AWG’s members.
The statement also accused PW of frustrating the execution of the arbitrator’s order to release and dispatch leased spare engines to Go First.
Globally, 178 aircraft are grounded due to PW engine issues, with an overwhelming 100 aircraft grounded in India.
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The Raytheon Group has claimed to be committed to making in India and the Indian aviation industry.
Still, it is treating India as a second-class market where PW’s actions continue to cause irreversible damage to Indian airline companies.
The Indian government has requested PW to set up an MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) organization in India for the last three years, but the engine maker has paid no heed, according to the statement by the erstwhile management of Go First.
The sub-standard engines supplied by PW have caused significant losses to the Indian aviation industry, leading to 100 aircraft being grounded in India and many more worldwide.
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The former chairman of Go First’s board, Varun Berry, has criticized PW for not accepting their liabilities and has urged AWG to focus on PW’s sub-standard engines instead of issuing watchlist notices for India.
The situation demands urgent action from PW to rectify their sub-standard engines and compensate airlines for their losses.
