Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's aviation authority on Monday revoked the operating license of the country's only Sharia-compliant airline due to violations of the country's civil aviation regulations, a senior official said
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) said Rayani Air breached the conditions stipulated in its license and lacks the financial and management capacity to operate a commercial airline.
“This episode serves as a reminder that operating a scheduled commercial airline is an exceedingly challenging undertaking and requires a high degree of planning, financial depth, operational know-how,” Mavcom chairman Abdullah Ahmad said in a statement.
Prior to the revocation of its license Rayani Air was suspended for three months after it suffered frequent delays and flight cancellations.
Rayani air, which prohibits alcohol consumption on its flights and serves only halal food, offers domestic flights in the predominantly Muslim northern states of Kedah and Kelantan and the eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak.
It started operations in December last year.
Ravi Alegandrran, chairman and owner of Rayani Air, said the airline will appeal the Mavcom decision, saying the revocation came at a time when they are negotiating with new investors who have better capability of reviving and operating the airline.
DPA