Liow: Rayani Air to be temporarily suspended

PETALING JAYA: Rayani Air will be issued a provisional suspension notice on Monday by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.  

In his Twitter account Sunday, he said Rayani Air had contravened the conditions of its Air Operators Certificate (AOC), adding that a full administration and safety audit would be conducted on the airlines.  

“DCA will undertake a full administration & safety audit to determine if Rayani is ‘fit’ for AOC after serving provisional suspension,” he said.  

Liow also said he was disappointed with the airline’s poor procedures and service level despite being warned by the Transport Ministry and DCA.  

Rayani Air is Malaysia’s first syariah-compliant airline.  

On Saturday, the airline announced that it would suspend operations effective immediately as part of the company’s restructuring plan.  

The suspension follows a strike organised by its pilots on Friday which forced the airline to cancel several flights.  

Speaking to reporters after attending the 70th JPJ Day here, Liow said: “Rayani cannot suspend itself, only DCA can suspend it.” 

The Transport Minister said DCA could revoke Rayani Air's licence but the airlines would be given “a chance to explain”.

On another matter, he said a plane debris found in an island in Mauritius, suspected to be from Flight MH370, would arrive in Malaysia on Sunday.

The item, which looks like an interior piece of the plane, was found on Rodrigues Island, 560km east of Mauritius, late last month.