IT wouldn’t be fair to compare airline wannabe SKS Airways – Malaysia’s latest airline – with the more established AirAsia or national carrier Malaysia Airlines.
But yet again, the downfall of Rayani Air, Malaysia’s first Shariah-compliant airline, is still vivid in many Malaysians’ memory.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that it costs a bomb to run a budget carrier business. This is more so in the current pandemic-stricken economy where prospects of lockdowns and travel restriction loom.
There is no intention to undermine the enterprising ambition of SKS Airways’ founders/investors here but it is always better to be ‘financially’ safe than sorry.
Rayani Air took off amid much fanfare on Dec 20, 2015 with an inaugural flight to Langkawi (RN600), priding itself as conforming to Islamic dietary laws by serving no alcoholic beverages or pork on board while prayers were recited before every flight.
Things were looking up for the budding airline with plan afoot to collaborate with Royal Brunei Airlines to strengthen the Shariah-compliant airline concept within the aviation industry.
However, turbulence struck out of the blue; on April 9, 2016 Rayani Air temporarily suspended all operations until further notice, citing ‘restructuring exercises’ in an announcement made by its co-founder.
The curtains came down on Rayani Air on June 13, 2016 when the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) announced that Rayani Air’s licence had been revoked for breaching the conditions of its licence as well as lacking the financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline.
Deep pockets
Undoubtedly, both AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines themselves are struggling with the former going all-out to pursue its ASEAN Super App agenda to complement its low-cost airline business model which was hard hit by the COVID-19 health crisis.
Nevertheless, in the spirit of “no pain, no gain”, it is hoped that SKS Airways which has been accorded the full Air Service Licence (ASL) by the MAVCOM effective Jan 1 has done its homework thoroughly while leaving no stone untouched in regards to loopholes that can trigger a ‘premature crash landing’.
Every Malaysian should stand firm behind SKS Airways, which claimed that its booking system is already up online, with the airline readying itself to take to the skies in the near future.
SKS Airways director Datuk Rohman Ahmad said the airline is keen to serve passengers especially those from underserved destinations.
”We at SKS Airways has been working hard during this period to introduce a new commercial airline that focuses on unserved and underserved routes destinations,” he commented.
“With the recent obtainment of ASL, we are now officially in business and looking forward to serve our customers while maintaining the highest hygiene and safety standards.”
For now, SKS Airway’s operation is mainly focused on popular island-based resorts, coastal resorts with connections to major cities within Peninsular Malaysia.
The airline’s initial fleet will consist up to four DHC6 Twin-Otter. – Jan 7, 2022
