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MALAYSIA’S low-cost airline MYAirline suddenly stopped operations on Thursday (10/12), 2023. Quoted from Malaymail, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said that this sudden stop resulted in 39 flights to local destinations and international routes to Bangkok Don Mueang Airport, Thailand, being stopped.
In total, the airport said as many as 5,000 MYAirline passengers were stranded. The airport operator urges MYAirline customers to reconsider their travel plans and look for alternatives if they have not yet departed for their destination.
“At Kuala Lumpur International Airport, rest areas have been provided at Level 3 Terminal 2 and Level 5 Anjung Tinjau Terminal 1 to ensure passengers can wait for their next flight comfortably,” said MAHB on Thursday (10/12).
Airport staff said they would continue to guide passengers to alternative travel for those stranded in various locations. Quoted from the WashingtonPost page, the airline announced the cessation of MYAirline operations via social media. The announcement shocked the government and many tourists.
The company apologized for the decision taken while saying it was facing significant financial pressure which caused operations to stop. The airline did not say when it would return but said it was still waiting for restructuring and recapitalization
“We have worked tirelessly to explore various partnership and capital raising options to prevent this suspension. Unfortunately, time constraints left us with no choice but to take this decision,” said the airline’s board of directors.
This statement was issued by the airline after previously the airline was said to be in the stage of finalizing a strategic partnership. The suspension of MYAirline’s operations is considered to indicate that negotiations may fail.
Even Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke criticized the sudden closure of the airline. He said what MYAirline did was unacceptable and tarnished Malaysia’s good name.
According to him, MYAirlines has sold 125,000 tickets worth 20 million ringgit (Rp. 66 billion) for flights scheduled until March 2024. “We were surprised, very surprised,” Loke said at a press conference.
“They claim that the airline did not notify the ministry of this termination. They didn’t tell us. They simply stopped operating without any airline staff at the airport. How could you just disappear like that? “This is very irresponsible,” he said.
He said the government would ensure ticket holders get a refund. The airline has a fleet of eight aircraft and by the end of this year the airline originally intended to increase the fleet to 12.
He added that airline should ask the government for help rather than stopping operations without warning. Regarding MYAirline’s actions, the Malaysian Aviation Commission decided to consider whether to revoke MyAirline’s permit, which also expires next month.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission also warned MYAirline to stop selling and booking flights, and to refund passengers. This commission also said they would investigate complaints that airline employees were not being paid salaries, and various other problems at the airline.
For information, MYAirline operates flights to 8 local destinations and 1 destination to Bangkok, Thailand. This airline is owned by businessman Allan Goh Hwan Hua. Two days earlier, MYAirline CEO Rayner Teo, who owns a 2% stake in the airline, resigned for health reasons. [kompas.com/photo special]
