Pratt & Whitney to oppose Go First's push to enforce arbitration

Pratt & Whitney (PW) plans to oppose Go Airlines (India) Ltd's push to enforce an arbitration ruling against the US company for the supply of spare engines.

“Go First’s allegations that Pratt & Whitney is responsible for its financial condition are without merit. Pratt & Whitney will vigorously defend itself against Go’s claims, and is pursuing its own legal recourse,” a company spokesperson told DH.

The cash-strapped carrier which filed for insolvency before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 2, has earlier moved a plea before a court in Delaware, United States, seeking enforcement of an arbitration award issued by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) against Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Pratt & Whitney.

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The SIAC had ordered PW to provide Go First with at least 10 serviceable engines by April 27, 2023, and a further 10 spare leased engines per month until December 2023.

“PW is complying with the arbitration order which asks PW to take all reasonable steps to dispatch engines to GoFirst. We are invested in all our customers’ success,” the PW spokesperson said.

“Currently, Go is seeking to jump the line for engines over other customers worldwide. Airline customers, who have been in good financial standing and compliant with contracts, should not be made to suffer due to the financial mismanagement and contractual violations of one particular airline,” a source close to the matter told DH.

“The legal team of GoFirst should be well prepared to legally challenge their claims for malicious or fraudulent intent even at later stages when the counsels for the vendors and creditors allege malice or fraud,” suggested Nitish Raj, Counsel, Supreme Court of India.