KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 ― Customers who have purchased tickets with Rayani Air but were unable to utilise them can demand refunds from the airline, the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) said.
MAVCOM, which handles commercial licences for airline operators, said in a statement that should Rayani Air fail to meet its obligations, consumers can seek legal redress and file a lawsuit for their refunds.
“Alternatively, affected consumers may lodge a formal complaint with the commission, who can hear and determine the complaint, with a view of protecting legitimate consumer interests.
“The commission may apply for its decision to be registered as a judgement of the Malaysian High Court,” it added,
The troubled Shariah-compliant airline had both its air service licence (ASL) and air operator certificate (AOC) revoked today after it failed to provide satisfactory responses to inquiries by local aviation regulators.
The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) said the decision to revoke the AOL was made after a “thorough” deliberation on Rayani Air’s response towards the inquiry, noting that the local airline had been given an opportunity to make a representation during the May 12 inquiry.
MAVCOM said in a separate statement that it revoked Rayani Air’s ASL because it found that Rayani Air had breached the conditions of the licence and lacked the financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline.
“As a consequence, Rayani Air can no longer operate as a commercial airline with effect from today,” said MAVCOM.
On May 25, the commission issued a show cause letter to Rayani Air after an evaluation was conducted on the trouble airline’s commercial standing and capabilities.
The commission said today that Rayani Air only submitted its representation to the show cause on the last day of the 14 day-timeframe given, and that upon review, it was decided that the airline’s responses were unsatisfactory.
Airline operators are required to apply for both the AOC and the ASL before they are allowed to commence operations.
Rayani was suspended after it unilaterally halted operations when a pilot strike left it crippled.
The DCA suspended Rayani's AOC in April over the unauthorised halt.
The airline has been beset by problems since it began operations, culminating in the strike by pilots over unpaid salaries.
