Indigo denies mass cancellation of flights, awaits GST clarification to import engines

The airline added that at present eight of its neos have been grounded due to unavailability of spare engines.
Indigo denies mass cancellation of flights, awaits GST clarification to import engines
Indigo denies mass cancellation of flights, awaits GST clarification to import engines
Written by:

Budget passenger airline IndiGo on Friday said it is awaiting certain clarifications regarding GST rates applicable on import of engines which it requires for its grounded A320neo aircraft.The airline also asserted that its pre-scheduled operations are normal and flights are operating "on-time". 

"We have 4 neo aircraft grounded due to 4 engines stuck at customs as we are awaiting certain clarifications post the implementation of GST. This has lead to unplanned flight cancellations," IndiGo said in a statement.

"There is no new development pertaining to the grounding of neos. As we have said on our June earnings' call, there were instances when up to nine neos were grounded due to inadequate spare engines."

The airline added that at present eight of its neos have been grounded due to unavailability of spare engines. 

"These are already factored in our revised schedule which was finalised in June and there are no additional flight cancellations on account of these neos," the statement added.

The airline's asserted that its pre-scheduled operations are normal and flights are operating "on-time". 

Indigo was reacting to a media report that claimed that the passenger carrier has cancelled over 80 daily flights and grounded 13 of its new Airbus A320neo aircraft due to engine-related issues.

"There are misleading information being spread by a section of the media on IndiGo's flight cancellations. We made detailed and comprehensive comments in our last earning call. We have no further comments to offer," Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo's President and Whole-time Director, said in a statement.

Ghosh alleged that misinformation was being spread "on a day when IndiGo came out on top in On-Time-Performance by a long margin".

The airline clarified that only eight of its Airbus A320neo aircraft have been grounded, but since April 2017.

"Our schedule was planned in the month of June itself pertaining to non-availability of these aircraft for the month of July, August and September," the airline said in another statement. 

"The affected passengers have already been accommodated with suitable options."

However, the news led to a fall of 0.49 per cent or Rs 6.20 in the company's scrip price at the BSE. The stock closed at Rs 1,270.30.

On August 4, civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had expressed concern over grounding of some A320neo aircraft of IndiGo and GoAir due to engine-related issues.

The DGCA that time held a meeting with officials and executives from engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney (P&W), Airbus, IndiGo and GoAir.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The News Minute
www.thenewsminute.com