Low-cost airline «Go First»

Go First, formerly known as GoAir, is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Mumbai that has been operating in the commercial airline industry since November 2005. It is owned by Indian corporate conglomerate Wadia Group. As of May 2013, GoAir was the fifth largest airline in the country in terms of passenger traffic.The scheduled route network covers airports in 38 cities and the airline operates more than a hundred flights per day.

The airline’s home port and main hub is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, while other hubs include Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Bangalore International Airport and Srinagar Airport in the cities of the same name.

GoAir Airlines was founded in 2005 by Jehangir Wadia, the youngest son of a major Indian entrepreneur Nusli Wadia, while being part of the Wadia Group conglomerate of corporates, primarily known for its subsidiaries Bombay Dyeing and Britannia Industries. The company’s founder Jehangir Wadia became chairman of the board of directors and its CEO, Giorgio De Roni. GoAir began operations in November 2005 and initially operated one Airbus A320 aircraft.

In January 2007 the airline’s average passenger load factor reached 86 per cent. However, growth has been rather slow, mainly due to fierce competition with India’s two other low-cost airlines, IndiGo and SpiceJet. GoAir CEO Giorgio De Roni attributes the slow growth to the company’s current strategy of achieving and maintaining profitable commercial operations rather than chasing new routes and aircraft acquisitions.

In April 2012, following the bankruptcy of Kingfisher Airlines, GoAir climbed from sixth to fifth position on the list of Indian airlines in terms of passenger traffic.

On March 17, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline halted flights to international destinations.

In May 2021, GoAir changed its official name to Go First.