Malaysia suspending troubled budget carrier MYAirline’s licence and air operator’s certificate

Malaysia is suspending the licence and air operator’s certificate (AOC) of MYAirline, after the low-cost carrier’s financial woes left passengers stranded at the airport. The airline drew flak when it suddenly announced on Oct 12 that it was halting its operations with immediate effect due to “significant financial pressures”, leaving dozens of its passengers waiting at the budget airport terminal in Kuala Lumpur with no flights out. “The company still exists; it is suspending operations while looking for investors. It’s a commercial issue but... we will be suspending their licence temporarily,” Transport Minister Anthony Loke told reporters after an event at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre on Monday. The airline’s air service licence from the Malaysian Aviation Commission was due to expire on Nov 14. The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) recently extended MYAirline’s AOC, which had expired on Sept 30, allowing it to operate scheduled commercial flights for another two years. But CAAM CE Norazman Mahmud said the AOC has been suspended, effective from Monday. He added that a safety audit had been carried out on MYAirline from May 29 to June 1 for its AOC renewal, but there were no findings that indicated financial distress.<br/>