‘Reek of mischief’: Malaysia’s SKS Airways slams reports of financial woes, as CEO departs

Malaysia’s SKS Airways has hit back at media reports suggesting that it faces financial woes, slamming them as “categorically false and [reeking] of mischief”, as it reiterates its commitment to its “next phase of growth”. The strongly-worded statement, issued 22 November, also comes as the regional airline’s new CE abruptly left the company after only two months at the helm. News broke on 20 November that the carrier was seeking additional funding, and had suspended other scheduled operations to the islands of Redang and Tioman. A report from Malaysia’s New Straits Times alleges the airline was “scrambling” to find funding for its incoming Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, of which SKS has 10 on lease from lessor Azorra. SKS announced commitments for the E2 jets at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition this year, making it the country’s first Embraer operator and among the first few operators of the type in Southeast Asia. It was to have taken its first E2 jet in January next year, but the report suggests it has been delayed to mid-2024 amid funding woes. <br/>