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In a surprising twist, a Malaysian airline that commenced operations less than a year ago abruptly ceased its services, leaving passengers stranded and in need of explanations. MYAirline cited “significant financial pressures” as the reason behind this sudden suspension, which sent shockwaves throughout the aviation industry.
Passengers planning to travel on Thursday were caught off guard when they discovered the airline’s closure while attempting to check in for their flights. The shutdown was so abrupt that all MYAirline check-in counters at Kuala Lumpur International Airport were closed, with no airline personnel present.
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Stranded travelers had to purchase new tickets, as MYAirline later expressed regret for the sudden shutdown and stated that immediate “service recovery options” could not be provided. The airline’s board of directors mentioned their efforts to explore partnerships and raise capital to prevent this suspension, but time constraints left them no choice.
To assist affected passengers, AirAsia offered 50% discounted recovery fares on select routes. Malaysia’s Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, strongly criticized the abrupt closure, labeling it unacceptable and damaging to the country’s reputation. He disclosed that the airline had sold 125,000 tickets, amounting to around 20 million ringgit ($4.2 million), for flights scheduled until March 2024.
While the closure appeared abrupt, experts are now connecting the dots, suggesting that it was foreseeable. The airline is owned by businessman Allan Goh Hwan Hua, and just two days before the closure, CEO Rayner Teo, who had a 2% stake in the carrier, stepped down due to health reasons.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission instructed MYAirline to halt sales and bookings of flights immediately and mandated refunds. The closure had a significant impact, with Malaysia Airports, which manages the country’s airports, reporting that around 5,000 passengers were affected on Thursday due to the cancellation of 39 flights to local destinations and one to Thailand.
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