KUALA LUMPUR – The government will be temporarily suspending the licence of the troubled low-cost carrier MYAirline Sdn Bhd (MYAirline), although it is unclear which of the two permits Transport Minister Anthony Loke was referring to.
A commercial airline in Malaysia needs an air service licence (ASL) and an air operator certificate (AOC).
“Its licence will be suspended for the time being. I’m made to understand that the airline management will be holding a press conference this evening.
“The management needs to explain to its customers and staffers and to give a guarantee (that the current issues will be resolved),” he said at the sidelines of an event here today.
“My deputy (Datuk Hasbi Habibollah) will be answering questions on this matter during the special chamber session this afternoon in Parliament as I’ll be overseas on official duties during that time.”
Loke added that the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia will be issuing a statement today as well.
“While the company still exists and suspended operations in a bid to find news investors, this is a commercial issue. But importantly, they need to address concerns raised by their customers and 900 employees.”
Last Saturday, MYAirline interim accountable executive Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman assured that the refund process was underway and requested for customers to be patient as the company was handling a high volume of over 12,000 emails.
Azharuddin said all MYAirline personnel are still under full employment and no one has been placed on unpaid leave.
He added that the carrier has received multiple interests and is now evaluating partnership proposals.
Previously, MYAirline passengers and employees took to social media to lambast the carrier for its sudden suspension of operations, claiming that the move is “inconvenient” as no prior warning was provided to travellers who had already purchased tickets with the airline.
Various airlines have since offered assistance to MYAirline passengers stuck at airports, including Malaysia Airlines, which is offering passengers a 55% discount on their fares for affected routes.
Loke had said the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) had been directed to exhaust all available measures to hold MYAirline accountable for its last-minute suspension of operations, which the carrier said was due to financial constraints.
He also admonished MYAirline for its “irresponsible” conduct, saying that the ministry was only notified of this action mere hours before it occurred. – October 16, 2023