Pune: Tourism Industry Hit as ‘Go First’ Airline Suddenly Suspends Services

Pune, 7th May 2023: Go First airline has filed for bankruptcy and abruptly stopped its flight services without any prior notice, causing a significant blow to the tourism industry. Travel Agents Association Pune (TAP) organized a press conference on Saturday and appealed to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation to help.

Many people had made their travel plans for this season months in advance and tourism companies are facing the fury of tourists even though they are not at fault due to this sudden crisis. The ticket refund is given to the customer in the company’s own virtual account, which can be used to purchase the company’s tickets again.

The planning of summer tourism is done six months in advance by tourism organizations, and non-refundable payments are made in advance on airlines, hotels, local services, among others. The sudden closure of Go First’s flight services has affected the travel plans of passengers, and the airline is giving a full refund through the original mode of payment.

Passengers should contact the customer number in case of any problem.
TAP officials have made several demands in response to the airline’s sudden closure. Firstly, they want other airlines to serve the routes of Go First for this season. Secondly, they want the cost of air tickets to be limited for the next two months and the looting of passengers to be avoided. Thirdly, they want Go First to pay the ticket refund directly to the bank account of the tourism companies instead of directly to the virtual account. Lastly, they want hotel and other facilities providing companies to be instructed to refund tourism companies in case of trip cancellations.

Meanwhile, the owner of a tour and traves company said that they are refusing to book tickets for the Go First flight to the passengers due to the closure of the flight service. Go First’s flights are said to be closed until May 12, and there is a possibility that this airline will remain closed even further. Currently, tourism companies do not have any Go First airline reservations.

President of TAP, Deepak Pujari, said that the tourism business was closed for a long time due to the Corona pandemic, and now, when it was returning to its former position, many people have made their travel plans for this season months in advance. Tourists and tourism organizations have been hit by Go First’s sudden suspension of services, and TAP has appealed to the government to provide help in this regard.