Malaysian Authorities Shut Down Rayani Air

The country’s only Islamic-compliant airline was established last December. It has faced criticism over its performance and, following the failure of an audit, has had its operating certificate revoked.

Rayani Air, Malaysia’s only Islamic-compliant airline, has been banned from the skies following a safety audit by the country’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

The carrier had previously faced a three-month ban in April after an inquiry revealed that it had failed to follow aviation regulations. However, Channel NewsAsia announced today that the airline’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC) had formally been revoked by the DCA.

This latest move came on the back of the safety audit, with the DCA announcing its decision after what it called a “thorough deliberation.” The statement by the DCA goes on to explain that Rayani Air is now required to hand its AOC back over to the DCA within 14 days.

As quoted by Channel NewsAsia, the statement went on to say that, “The DCA and the Ministry of Transport is working closely with the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) in this matter as safety and security of the aviation industry is of paramount importance.”

MAVCOM issued its own statement on the matter on Monday, advising travelers that it, “has found that Rayani Air had breached the conditions of its ASL and lacks the financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline. As a consequence, Rayani Air can no longer operate as a commercial airline with effect from today.”

MAVCOM also explained that it had carried out an evaluation of Rayani Air’s commercial capabilities last month. At the time, the body considered the carrier’s response to its request for representations in this respect to be inadequate and so has decided to revoke its Air Service License (ASL). In its statement, MAVCOM reminded passengers that, “Rayani Air is still liable to refund its customers.”

The airline, only established in December 2015, has been criticized for its performance record.

In its statement, MAVCOM’s executive director, General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Abdullah Bin Ahmad (Retired), added, “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 and execution capability to stand any chance of succeeding.”

[Photo: AP]