UAE based FlyDubai plans India entry, considers Go First acquisition
Dubai’s FlyDubai Joins Hands with Busy Bee Airways to Enter Indian Aviation Market
FlyDubai Eyes Indian Market, Partners with Busy Bee for Potential Go First Revival
Low-cost airline FlyDubai, based in Dubai, is collaborating with Busy Bee Airways to research the Indian aviation sector. The Indian airline Go First, which has been halted since May 2023 due to insolvency, would be able to carry on if this project is successful.
A request by Busy Bee Airways to buy significant assets, including the airline’s operating license, trademarks, and airport slots, has been sent to Go First’s Committee of Creditors (CoC). Protecting physical assets is not as crucial as preserving Go First’s established brand identification and operational rights.
By utilizing Go First’s infrastructure, FlyDubai, a division of Dubai Aviation Corporation and owned by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD), hopes to improve its standing in the cutthroat Indian market.
The Italian airline, which has been experiencing financial difficulties for more than a year, has attracted interest from a number of airlines. After first putting in a bid in March 2024, Busy Bee has now expressed interest in purchasing Go First’s physical assets, notably its sizeable land holding in Thane, close to Mumbai. According to insiders, the airline has made a bid of about Rs 1000 crore for Go First’s trademarks and licenses.
Other companies have also stated their intention to bid for Go First’s assets, including SpiceJet, NS Aviation, and Sky One. In 2024, Nishant Pitti of EaseMyTrip also submitted a combined bid to purchase Go First’s intellectual property, first for Rs 1600 crore and then for Rs 1800 crore.
Go First, which has been grounded since filing for bankruptcy in May 2023, was ordered for liquidation by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in January 2025 due to its inability to resume operations. Busy Bee Airways has submitted its bid in writing, further intensifying the competition for the airline’s assets and potential revival.
An important event in India’s aviation industry would be the possible purchase and resuscitation of Go First by Busy Bee Airways, which would present chances for expansion and reorganization in a market already experiencing a spike in interest from both domestic and foreign competitors.
