Struggling Malaysian budget carrier MyAirline abruptly suspends service, leaving travelers stranded
Malaysian budget carrier MYAirline has abruptly suspended operations less than 11 months after it took to the skies
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian budget carrier MYAirline abruptly suspended operations Thursday, citing financial pressures less than 11 months after it took to the skies. The cancellation of the airline's 40 flights stranded thousands of passengers.
MYAirline made the announcement on social media, catching the government and many travelers by surprise. The company apologized for its “extremely painful decision” but said “significant financial pressures” forced it to suspend operations pending an ownership restructuring and recapitalization.
“We have worked tirelessly to explore various partnership and capital-raising options to prevent this suspension. Unfortunately, the constraints of time have left us with no alternative but to take this decision,” the airline's board of directors said in a statement.
The move came just days after the airline said it was in the advanced stages of finalizing a strategic partnership. Local media reported that the suspension signaled those talks might have collapsed.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke slammed the hasty shutdown, saying it was unacceptable and gave the country a bad name. He said the airline had sold 125,000 tickets worth some 20 million ringgit ($4.2 million) for flights scheduled until March 2024.
“We were caught by surprise and totally shocked,” Loke said during a news conference. “They didn't inform us. They just stopped operating with no airline staff at the airport. How can you just disappear like that? This is highly irresponsible.”
The government will ensure that ticket-holders are refunded, the minister said.
Loke said the airline has
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