Of the 54 grounded aircraft in defunct carrier GoAir’s fleet, 28 have already flown out of India with some already being taken into service by global airlines. Encumbered by engine issues, a dispute with the engine manufacturer and mounting groundings, GoAir’s management decided to get out of the airline business. What ensued was a long-drawn battle in the courts over possession of the entire grounded fleet which the airline had procured through lease and had stopped paying its lease rentals.

According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) records, the airline had five A320ceo and 49 A320neo aircraft at the time of grounding. In April 2024, the Delhi High Court directed the DGCA to de-register the planes and facilitate transfer. The condition of the grounded aircraft had subsequently deteriorated. Things on the deregistration front meant a lot of work for lessors to get the aircraft airworthy and then fly them out of India.