Rayani Air To Fly Again In 2027 With Focus On Haj, Umrah Charters
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Rayani Air Sdn Bhd has announced its return under new management, with a new business model focusing exclusively on shariah-compliant haj and umrah charter flights which are scheduled to begin in 2027.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Sunday, the airline described itself as Rayani Air 2.0 Halal, a 100 per cent Bumiputera-owned company, and said it will no longer operate domestic scheduled flights.
Rayani Air said it plans to operate an Airbus A330-300 with a 290-passenger capacity for its Rayani Air 2.0 Halal service, which is scheduled to start next year, compared with the Boeing 737-400 with a capacity of 160 passengers that it operated in 2015-2016.
It also acknowledged the disappointment experienced by many passengers during its operations in 2015 and 2016, particularly over flight cancellations and pending refunds.
“The issue of cancelled flights and pending refunds is a heavy amanah (responsibility) for us. The operations at that time were under the old management.
“Since cessation in 2016, the company has gone through a long restructuring,” it said.
Rayani Air said it is not running away from its past, adding that it is reviewing records relating to legacy refunds that remain pending with the assistance of legal advisers to determine the best solution through proper channels.
“We ask for your time and prayers. The past is our lesson. The future we build with trust,” it said.
The airline also thanked the public for giving it a second chance.
Rayani Air, which launched its maiden flight on Dec 20, 2015, ceased operations in June 2016 after the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) revoked its air service licence (ASL) on June 13, citing breaches of licence conditions and a lack of financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline.
Its air operator certificate (AOC), issued by the Department of Civil Aviation, was also revoked on the same day.
-- BERNAMA