Failure to pay staff salaries is believed to have been the main reason for Rayani Air staff to go on a strike on Friday and forcing the syariah-compliant airline to suspend its operations on Friday.

Rayani Air chief executive officer Ravi Alagendrran has also been taken to task for his failure to provide adequate explanation and the next steps for the company staff following its decision to suspend operations.

Caught in a limbo, the staff are clueless about their future and employment.

“I don’t know if I am still with the company or whether I still have a job because there is no further direction from the management on the next step,” said a staff who refused to be named.

“Everything that happened came as a surprise to the staff. It was too sudden. We don’t know what happened,” the staff said.

Efforts to reach Ravi for a comment were futile.

In a viral WhatsApp message sighted by Astro AWANI, Ravi asks a pilot to fly as scheduled and to consider the company staff's welfare.

“Captain, I am asking you a big favour, for the staff sake, please fly tomorrow as 485 staff salary depends on tomorrow funder. If passenger stranded tomorrow, funders will pull out and 485 staff will suffer, please, for the staff, do the flight and let me secure the investors tomorrow,” he said.

“I am really sorry for the inconvenience cause but tomorrow is the day I am solving this. I don’t want the staff to suffer. Please Captain,” he said.

The message is believed to have seen sent a day before the company’s pilots went on a strike, Friday.

In the message, another staff reminded Ravi that this was not the first time such a thing had occurred.

"Brs, with all due respect. No matter what happens to the company. You should pay our salary.This is not the first time. And also not the first time we are suffering from hunger," the staff said in a WhatsApp message.

On Apr 8, Rayani Air suspended its operations with immediate effect as part of its restructuring plan.


READ: Rayani Air suspends operations

READ: Rayani Air's last minute cancellations spark anger among passengers


Four flights were cancelled at the last minute on Friday, following the strike.

On Apr 10, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will issue a provisional suspension notice on Monday to Rayani Air for suspending operations.

Liow said no airline is allowed to suspend its operations without referring to the authorities.

READ: Rayani Air: DCA to issue provisional suspension notice - Liow

“I am very disappointed with Rayani Air for not providing a good service to the people,” Liow said after launching JPJ Day today.