GoAir, which has come under fire from passengers for cancelling dozens of flights abruptly earlier this week, on Thursday attributed the disruption in network to the delay in aircraft deliveries and the non-availability of engines.

In a clarification issued on Thursday, the budget carrier also sought to defend its choice of Pratt & Whitney engines for its A320 Neo fleet.

GoAir cancelled as many as 40 flights between December 23 and December 24, during which it also reported air turn back of two if its aircraft due to engine glitches, which were later taken out of operations for further inspection.

“GoAir has placed an order for 144 Airbus A320neo aircraft and has experienced delivery delays during the month of November and December, adding to its operational challenges,” the airline said.

The airline further said “during the same time, the non-availability of Pratt & Whitney spare engines have also hampered the smooth functioning of the airline”.

Data collated from an aircraft deliveries tracking website suggest that GoAir has inducted less planes in the fleet this year compared with 2018.

Against 17 aircraft inducted between May and December last year, the carrier took deliveries of only 11 planes between April and December this year.