Rayani Air, Malaysia’s first syariah-compliant airline just can’t seem to catch a break.
And if this leaked memo is anything to go by, it looks like the curtains are coming down really fast for the troubled Airline, which only had its maiden flight barely 4 months ago.
The authenticity of the memo can’t be confirmed but it comes on the back of a very public pilot strike yesterday that caused a cancellation of all Rayani Air flights for the day. Rayani Air also courted controversy before this by giving passengers hand written boarding passes.
While the RayaniAir.com website remains operational, all flight bookings are not showing any availability for any of the dates checked.
UPDATE (11th April, 7:45am)
Meanwhile, according to a MMO report citing insiders, faulty airframes and unpaid salaries were among the reasons that apparently led to Rayani Air suspending its operations.
Rayani Air operates 2 Boeing 737-400. Pilot had raised concerns about numerous technical issues, including the windows and hydraulic systems, as well as a broken cockpit window, as they could potentially lead to accidents.
UPDATE (11th April, 4pm):
FMT wrote that The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has issued a 3-month temporary suspension to Rayani Air starting today, a first for any airline in the country.
“DCA will exercise its powers under sub-regulation 87 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1996 to provisionally suspend the airline’s Air Operators Certificate for three months pending an inquiry on May 12. We cannot allow flights that we feel have contravened our regulations. They will not be allowed to fly. We have to do something about it,” he was quoted as saying.
On top of that, DCA Director-General Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said that an inquiry into the airline’s shortfalls will be carried out on 12th May.
