Rayani Air: DCA to issue provisional suspension notice - Liow
Liow said DCA will send a temporary operation suspension letter on Monday to Rayani Air.
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will issue a provisional suspension notice on Monday to Rayani Air which had suspended operations on Friday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
This is following the company's failure to adhere to DCA's regulation and its decision to suspend its operation without any application on the matter.
Liow said no airline is allowed to suspend its operations without referring to the authorities.
“I am very disappointed with Rayani Air for not providing a good service to the people,” Liow said after launching JPJ Day today.
He said any airline that wishes to suspend its operations must apply to the DCA at least six months before its suspension date.
On Apr 8, the syariah-compliant airline suspended its operations with immediate effect as part of its restructuring plan.
The company's owner Ravi Alagendrran had conveyed the matters to its staff via e-mail.
"Please be informed that we have suspended our operations with immediate effect until further notice. This is an effort as part our company restructuring plan / exercise.
"You may instruct their sub-coordinates to close down the operations and re-count back the company assets," he said in the email.
Four flights were cancelled at the last minute on Friday, following strike by pilots.
The affected flights were RN130 from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, RN153 and RN154 from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching and RN182 from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi.
Rayani Air, a collaboration between an oil and gas company, Merdeka Jayabumi Enterprise and mining company, Terus Maju Metal, launched its maiden flight on Dec 20.
However, the company had several hiccups when flights were cancelled at the last minute in February prompting Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun urging the government to “relook its airline licensing policy to safeguard the interests of air travelers.”
Must-Watch Video
Stay updated with our news